




































































































. 




































































































































Stories, . . . 
Old and New 


George M. Teegarden. 


EDGEWOOD PARK. 

PRINTED AT THE INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF. 


1 . 



WO COPIES RECEIVED 


i .tf 


^814 


















Copyright, 1897, by George M. Teegarden. 





Contents. 


Aaron Burr’s Daughter 

A Bad Cat 

Abraham and Isaac 

Absent Minded 

A Cuban Amazon 

A Huntress 

A Kind Dog 

Alice 

Baboon at the Exposition 

Babv and the Pets 

Benjamin Franklin 

Caius Mucius Scaevola 

Christmas Time 

Christopher Columbus 

Dangerous Coasting 

Daniel Boone 

David and Jonathan 

Echo 

Father Pumpkin 

Fight with an owl..... 

Gallaudet 

General Howe and Little Rebels 
Gentleman and Banana Peel... 

Hagar and Ishmael 

Hans and Gretchen 

Hiram’s Cow. 

Issa 

Jocob 

Johnny and his Sled 

Lady Jane of Lorn 


A Little Spartan 72 

Annie and Willie’ s Christmas. ..136 

Arachne 152 

A Ring of Ill-omen 192 

A Roland for an Oliver 177 

A Smart Shoemaker 1 1 1 

A Strange Accident 98 

A Sympathatic Dog 105 

Blaine and the Well-digger 15 

Borrowed Plumes 17 1 

Boys and monkeys 31 

City of Refuge 139 

Crying for Mamma ! 123 

Decoration Day 45 

Dining room Talk 47 

Elenore and Nero 74 

Fight with a Wildcat.. 125 

Four Brothers 33 

George Washington 5 

Ginevra 2 5 

Gusky.. 102 

Horatii and Curiatii 187 

Horatius. 180 

Horned Toads 16 

Imprisoned Mamma 156 

Job 43 


.191 

159 

205 

189 

• 73 

. 100 

. 16 

■ 77 

•173 

.168 

.200 

.126 

. 27 

• 50 

.122 

.208 

• i8 3 

. 8 

. 68 

.128 

141 

164 

134 

.212 

160 

• 133 

• 57 

214 

.149 

. 82 


Marcus Curtius x 55 

Mazeppa 101 

Molly and the Canary 7 8 


Napoleon and the Sailor 

Peasant Truth 

Playing with Powder 

Queen Isabella 


Rampsinitus and the Robber 54 

Saved by a Cat * 5 8 

Saved by a Spider 84 

Saved by Sheep 4 6 

The Bird and the Snake 112 

The Boy and his Stomach 17 

The Brave Pilot 86 

The Cat and the Hare 169 

The Christian Knight 109 

The Christmas Gift 106 

The Faithful Dog 64 

The Fox 14 

The Gauls in Rome 195 

The Great Civil War 40 

The Lark and her Young Ones. . . 62 

The Lion and the Mouse 176 

The Lion and the Spaniel 87 

The Maid of the Inn 96 

Uncle Sam 218 


Monkey and Sugar 129 

Mr. Silverman’s Thanksgiving.. 18 


Pyramids 1 15 


Rudely Awakened 94 

Spoiling a Pointer 14^ 

Struck by Lightning 95 

The Miller and his Donkey 65 

The Negro and his Book 170 

The Stork and the Dog 190 

The Story of Jesus 89 

The Story of Paul 36 


The Toad, the Snake and the 

Tramp 

The Ugly Aunt 


The Visit of St. Nicholas 165 

The Youth and the North wind.. 161 
Three Little Ones and the Giantsi 19 

Threw his Watch 157 

Tommy’s Mischief 80 

Two Kittens 107 


Valentine and Ursine 130 

Vanlander and Amilis 174 

Wilhelm and the Deer 1 1 3 

Yellow Hair and Blue Eyes 41 

Zeke and the Bear 148 


Venice 

Virginia 

William Penn 


222 

150 

198 


Zintka Lanuni 


193 


PREFACE. 


o 

In presenting the stories contained in this little volume, it 
is not intended to claim anything original. Many have been 
adapted from the prose and verse of popular authors; many have 
been culled from the pages of the daily press — re-written and 
put in a form calculated to interest and instruct the youngest 
readers. Legend, Mythology, Fable, History and Biography 
have all been drawn upon. The most of the stories were pub- 
lished in the Western Pennsylvanian and the favor with which 
they have been received by the young, for whom they were in- 
tended, and the advice of friends, have led me to collect, revise 
and present them in book form with the hope that they may do 
good to those into whose hands they may fall. G. M. T. 


WASHINGTON CROSSING THE DELAWARE. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 

The 22nd of February is a national holiday because it 
is the birthday of George Washington, who is often called 
“The Father of his Country.” Washington was a great 
and good man and the people of the United States love 
to honor his memory, although he has been dead almost 
one hundred years. As long as 1 the United States 
remains a Republic, Washington will ever he the model 
citizen, soldier and president. 

George Washington was born on the 22nd of February, 
1732, near Fredericksburg, Virginia. His father was 
wealthy and owned a large plantation and many slaves. 
He died, however, while Washington was young and his 
education was left to his mother. As a hoy, he was kind- 
hearted and generous. He loved and honored his moth- 
er as long as he lived. He remembered her kind and 
wise teachings. He was always truthful and honest. 
He was manly and courageous, and he was never known 
to do a mean or cruel act. When he became a man, he 
was just and kind to all. People loved and honored him 
because he was good. 


0 STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 

He was one of the greatest soldiers that ever lived. 
He was sagacious, brave and generous. He shared the 
hardships of his soldiers and contributed to their comfort. 
He was exposed to many dangers during his lifetime. A 
kind Providence seemed to protect him, as if for the sake 
his country. 

When he was only seventeen years old, he successfully 
surveyed large tracts of land in the wildest part of 
Virginia. In this task he was exposed to many hard- 
ships and dangers. The woods were full of wild beasts 
and savage Indians. He narrowly escaped drowning in 
the Allegheny river, when it was full of floating ice in 
mid- winter. He was fired upon by savages in ambush. 
In a battle between the French and Indians, on the site 
of the present town of Braddock, he escaped seventeen 
shots of an Indian who had singled him out as his 
victim. During the Revolutionary War, he escaped 
several attempts upon his life, by poison and other ways. 
Yet he was spared to bring the great war for Independence 
to a successful close. 

While fighting for their freedom Washington c*nd his 
soldiers underwent many hardships. One winter Wash- 
ington was with his army near Philadelphia. The Hes- 
sians, who were hired soldiers helping the English, were 
at Trenton, New Jersey. It was Christmas time and the 
weather was very cold. Washington knew the Hessians 
would be feasting and drinking on Christmas eve, so he 
planned to surprise them. He led his army to the Del- 
aware river which was full of floating ice. Many of the 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


7 


soldiers suffered much on the march. Some were shoe- 
less and their bleeding feet left blood-marks on the snow. 
Others were hatless and but few had overcoats. They did 
not complain but were very patient. Washington secur- 
ed a number of boats or barges and in the night the army 
crossed the river among the floating cakes of ice. It was 
a dangerous passage. Washington stood up in the first 
boat which led the way. The army landed in safety and 
marched upon Trenton. The Hessians were surprised and 
after some fighting, surrendered. This victory was called 
Washington‘s Christmas gift to the country. This story 
illustrates the perseverence of the great leader and the 
patience of the patriots who fought with him. 

The people were grateful to Washington for his personal 
sacrifices and services for the sake of his country. They 
elected him the first president of the United States. He 
took the oath of office on the 30th of April, 1789. He 
was president eight years. He never cared for office 
and refused to be nominated for a third term. He thus 
set a precedent which has never been broken by any presi- 
dent since his time. 

Washington died on the 14th of December, 1799. His 
tomb may be seen at Mount Vernon, his old home, on the 
banks of the Potomac river. He has many monuments 
erected in his honor. On the base of one of his statues are 
chiseled these words:— “First in war, first in peace, first 
in the hearts of his countrymen.” * 


8 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


ECHO. 

Long, long ago, it is said, Echo was a beautiful maiden 
but not very wise. 

Stories of long ago tell us about Diana, who was a 
goddess and lived in the forests and dells. Echo also liv- 
ed among the hills and woods and was a favorite or 
Diana. They were often seen together, for wherever 
Diana went Echo was sure to follow. 

Now, Echo was very loquacious. That is, she loved 
to talk. Her tongue never seemed to get weary. She 
was young and silly, and by and by she fell into the had 
habit of talking back at people. When she was in 
company with older and wiser persons and discussing 
grave matters, Miss Echo would insist on having the last 
word to say. 

She also tattled and often changed the words that she 
had heard. So it is no wonder, she was disliked on 
account of her bad habits. 

Juno, it is said, was the chief of the goddesses. 
One time Echo heard Juno say something very nice and 
reported her wrong. It made the goddess very angry 
and she determined to punish the saucy maid. She 
declared that Echo, on account of her folly, should no 
longer talk like other people. She should never again 
say anything first herself, hut all she should say would 
be in reply to others or to repeat what others said. 
This was a terrible punishment for poor Echo, for she was 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


lively and loved to talk, nevertheless she could not escape. 
Soon after this Echo met one, Narcissus, whom she wished 
very much to please. She tried again and again to speak to 
him but to her sorrow, she found that she was dumb. 
She could not utter a word. At another time, Narcissus, 
seeing Echo was very beautiful, spoke to her, but she 
could only repeat his words and seemed to mock him, 
so he became very angry and' left her. He never spoke 
to her again. 

Poor Echo wandered about the dells on the mountain 
sides. She was very sad and pined away in her 
sorrow. She grew smaller and smaller until at last, her 
form disappeared entirely. Her voice however was 
immortal and could not die. It is living still and often 
people can hear the voice of Echo. When they shout 
they can hear the voice repeating their words and when 
they laugh Echo will laugh back at them. Often she 
repeats the words again and again and makes the mount- 
ain sides fairly ring with music and strange sounds. 
When people are tempted to tattle and gossip they should 
remember the stoty of Echo, for, like her, they might 
be punished for what they say. 


10 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


THE UGLY AUNT. 

Long ago there was a little girl whose parents were 
dead and who had no brothers or sisters. This poor 
orphan was left all alone without friends to take care of 
her. She had no relations. Her name was Geraldine. 
She was very beautiful and she was always anxious to 
learn and willing to work. This was well for she had to 
earn her own living. 

In that country there was a fine palace where lived a 
powerful queen. To this palace Geraldine went to get a 
place as maid to the queen. Now when the queen saw her 
she loved her for her beauty, and chose her to wait on 
her, and always be near her. The queen did not mind 
how poor she was. Geraldine was very happy for she 
liked to work for the queen and tried to please her. 

At last there was trouble. The other maids in the palace 
of the queen were jealous of Geraldine. They haded her 
because the queen loved her best and had chosen her to 
be her favorite. They annoyed her and teased her. They 
tried to make her angry but she was very patient. Final- 
ly they thought how they could injure her. The queen 
loved to spin. She thought no one could spin as fast or as 
fine as she. So those wicked maids told the queen that 
Geraldine had boasted that she could spin a pound of 
flax all in one day. This was not true but the queen did 
not know it. She thought Geraldine was very boastful. 
So she put her in a room all by herself and gave her a 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


11 


spinning wheel and a pound of flax. She bade her show 
how well she could spin, then left her alone. 

Poor Geraldine was very much troubled. Her mother 
had never taught her how to spin and she was in despair. 
She sat down and cried for she knew not what to do. Just 
then the door opened and a queer looking woman came in. 
She was very old and ugly with a long nose. She asked 
the maid why she cried and she told her about the flax 
which she could not spin. Then the old woman told her 
that she would spin the flax and she should go to bed, if on 
her wedding day she would call her aunt. Geraldine 
promised. Then the woman spun the flax very fast and 
soon finished it all. After that she went away. 

In the evening the queen came into the room to see how 
her maid had got along with her task. She was very 
much surprised to see that the flax was all spun, and how 
fine and even the thread was. She embraced Geraldine 
and kissed her. She said she was very smart to spin so 
well, and that she should wed her son, the prince. 

So there was a grand wedding at the palace and Gerald- 
ine became a princess. There was a fine wedding feast 
and many guests were at the table. While they were 
eating and laughing the door flew open and a funny old 
woman came bouncing in. The guests were astonished. 
The woman curtesied to all and said to the princess, 
“Good evening, gentle lady.” Geraldine replied, “Good 
evening, aunt? The prince was much surprised to hear 
his bride call this ugly, wrinkled woman her aunt. He 
made room at the table and politely invited her to sit by 


12 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


him at the feast. While he ate, the prince conlcl not 
help wondering why this old woman had such a long 
nose. At last he asked her how her nose happened to. he 
so long. She answered, “It was spinning in my girlhood 
that made my nose so long.” The prince stared. Then 
he declared before all his guests that his bride, the beauti- 
ful Geraldine, should never spin again, for he did not want 
her to spoil her beauty, and become ugly with a long 
nose like her aunt. So Geraldine was never asked to 
spin again and lived happily with the prince. 


o- 


NAPOLEON AND THE SAILOR. 

The great Napoleon had conquered many cities and led 
his victorious soldiers from place to place. At last he 
came to the city of Boulogne. The city was near the 
English channel which is between France and England. 
He also had many ships. England was much alarmed 
because Napoleon was so near. So she sent her ships 
with many sailors into the channel to watch the army of 
Napoleon. 

One j day Napoleon’s sailors captured an English seaman. 
They took him to the city of Boulogne, where Napoleon 
was staying. They did not watch him very closely and 
left him free to walk along the beach alone. They 
thought tie could not get away. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


13 


Now the English sailor had a good and kind mother 
whom he loved dearly. Often he looked across the chan- 
nel toward England and wished he were a bird so he 
could fly over the water and go home. He thought so 
much about his mother that he could not sleep, so one 
morning he got up very early and walked on the sea-shore. 
He chanced to see a large hogshead floating near the 
shore. He secured it and took it away and hid it in a 
cave. Here he worked many days and tried to fashion 
the hogshead into a boat. He bound it with willows and 
put some stones in it for ballast. It had no sail nor keel. 
The sailor had only a large paddle with which to row it. 
In this strange boat he intended to cross the channel which 
was forty miles wide. One morning when he was about 
to launch his boat, some French soldiers detected him. 
They laughed at his boat and said he must be crazy. They 
told Napoleon about it. The great general came to see 
the queer boat. He folded his arms and looked at the 
sailor.' He asked him if he had really intended to try to 
escape in the hogshead. The sailor confessed that he had 
intended to try. 

Napoleon was surprised and asked him why he would 
dare such danger. Then the sailor told him about his 
longing to see his mother. Napoleon was much pleased. 
He said his mother was a very noble woman because she 
had such a brave son. He said the sailor should go to his 
mother. Then he ordered a boat, with a flag of truce, to 
take the sailor across the channel and land him safe in 
England. Napoleon was generous and kind to the sailor 
because he was brave. 


14 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


THE FOX. 


A fox which had been caught young, was kept for a pet. 
He was kept chained up in the yard and became very 
tame. The children played with him. The watch dog gam- 
boled with him and the chickens and geese did not fear 
him but came up and pecked at his food without fear. 
The fox did not even growl at them. The mistress thought 
the fox was very pretty. She thought it was cruel to 
keep him chained up all the time. She thought it would 
be safe to let him loose. So she unbuckled the collar and 
let him go free. He was very glad to be unchained and 
frisked about. By and by the mistress heard a great noise 
and squalling among her geese and chickens. She ran 
out to see what was the matter. She saw the fox 
running away with her fattest pullet slung over his 
shoulder. 

“You treacherous fox,” shouted the woman, “I thought 
you were so good.” 

“Ah,” said the fox, “I was good while I was chained, 
but now I am free.” 

Bad habits are like this fox. While we keep them chain- 
ed and watch them, they give us no trouble. As soon as 
they are free they begin to rob us of our good qualities 
until we have a bad name. Beware of the little foxes, or 
bad habits. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


15 


BLAINE AND THE WELL-DIGGER. 

The father of James G. Blaine lived in Washington 
county, Pa. When James was about three years old 
they were digging a well on the farm near the house. 
Little James watched the well-digger at work in the well. 
Sometimes he went up close to the well and looked in. 
The well-digger was afraid he might fall in, so he tried to 
scare him. He shook his shovel and made faces at him. 
James ran away. The next day he came back to the well. 
He looked down cautiously and saw the man who had 
made faces at him, at the bottom. Then he got some 
dirt and stones and threw them on the man. He stood 
with his back to the well and scraped the dirt and stones 
into the well between his legs. The man was frightened, 
and shouted. James kept on scraping in the dirt and 
stones. Then the man screamed for help. James 1 moth- 
er was in the house. She heard the well-digger shouting. 
She ran out and saw what James was doing. She ran to 
him, took him up and carried him into the house. I 
think she punished him, but the well-digger did not make 
faces at James any more. 


16 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


HORNED TOADS. 

One day a young lady who lived near Pittsburgh receiv- 
ed a small box by mail. When she opened it she found 
it full of dry dirt and small stones. She did not know 
what it meant. She examined the box carefully. Then 
she began to stir up the dirt in the box with her fingers. 
Soon she discovered several curious looking creatures 
among the dirt and stones. At first she was startled, then 
she looked at them more carefully. They were horned 
toads. The lady thought them very funny. She caught 
flies and fed them. As soon as they were fed the toads 
would bury themselves in the dirt again. The lady kept 
the toads several months and showed them to all her 
friends. They were quite a curiosity. They were sent 
from California. Horned toads have little hard lumps on 
their heads and bodies. They seem to be very lazy and 
do not hop about like common toads. They act a little 
like lizards. 


-o 


A KIND DOG. 


A man and his wife, living in Pennsylvania, had a 
quarrel. While they were quarreling, their baby, four 
months old, was thrown out of the kitchen window. The 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 17 

parents did not care for the child, and kept on quarrel- 
ing. 

A large Newfoundland dog, which lived near by, passed 
the house and found the baby lying on the ground. He 
picked it up with his teeth and carried it carefully across 
a creek to his kennel. He laid it down in the straw and 
watched it. 

By and by the man and his wife stopped quarreling. 
Then they began to think about their baby. They could 
not find it, and became alarmed. They searched for two 
hours for their little one. At last the father heard a 
low cry from the dog’s kennel and went there. He 
found his baby in the kennel, kicking about in the straw 
and the good-natured dog watching it. 

The man carried the baby home and I think he felt 
ashamed because the dog was kinder to the baby than its 
parents were. 


o 


THE BOY AND HIS STOMACH. 

Once upon a time there was a little boy, who had a very 
fine stomach. He thought a great deal of his stomach. 
In fact he was in love with it. The stomach was very 
greedy. The little boy gave his stomach many nice things, 
such as apples, oranges, bananas, grapes, nuts, cakes, figs, 
dates and candy. He thought he was very kind to his 

2 


18 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 

stomach but he only spoiledit, because, after awhile, it 
was never satisfied. It longed for something good all the 
time. The boy spent all his money for nice things for his 
stomach. His stomach kept on crying, “More, more,” and 
the boy asked his mamma to help him get things for it. 
It troubled him very much but he could not refuse it. 
He let it have everything. By and by it became his mas- 
ter and was very troublesome. It gave him no peace. 
He could not study or think, because his stomach bother- 
ed him so much. When the boy was at work, his stom- 
ach troubled him and he had to stop and feed it and give 
it good things to make it keep still. 

So you see it does not pay to spoil a stomach. A spoil- 
ed stomach is like a spoiled child, very troublesome and 
annoying all the time. 


o- 


mr. silverman’s thanksgiving. 

Mr. Silverman was wealthy. He was frugal and saving, 
but people said he was stingy. He had been a poor boy 
but he had saved his money, so that now, he was rich. 
He was kind-hearted and liked to help the needy, but he 
never gave away his money without some return for it. 
He thought everybody should work. On Thanksgiving 
Day Mr. Silverman went down town. The sun shone and 
everything was bright and cheerful. He felt happy and 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


19 



grateful because he had good health and plenty of money. 
He thought he would like to help somebody. By and by 
a ragged boot-black stood before him and said, “Shine, sir?” 


“Oh, yes,” said Mr. Silverman. “You may polish my shoes 
but be sure you do it well.” 

Then he leaned over and put his foot on the boy’s box 


20 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


and the boy polished his shoes very nicely. He gave him 
a silver dollar and walked away. “Here is your change,” 
shouted the boot-black, but Mr. Silverman said, “Oh, that 
is all right. You keep it.” The boy was very much sur- 
prised and pleased. A little further on Mr. Silverman 
met another boot-black who wanted to “shine” his shoes. 
His shoes did not need blacking, but he wanted to give the 
boy something and wanted him to work for it, so he sat 
down and let the boy polish his shoes again. When it 
was dohe, he gave him half a dollar. A newsboy came 
along and Mr. Silverman bought a paper for a quarter 
although the price was only two cents. After that he 
went on and crossed the street. He stepped in the mud 
on purpose and got his shoes dirty. So when he saw 
another boot-black, he had his shoes polished again. 
Every time he met a boot-black he got his shoes blacken- 
ed and gave each boy half a dollar. Every time he saw 
a newsboy he bought a paper and paid a quarter for it. 
So when he reached home, he had had his shoes polished 
ten times and had eight or nine different papers. He was 
happy for he knew the boot-blacks and newsboys were 
glad to get a little extra money. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


21 


PLAYING WITH POWDER. 

Tom and his three brothers lived on a small farm in 
Pennsylvania. They had a friend, named George, who 
lived in the village near their home. The boys were to- 
gether a great deal, and like all boys, got into a good deal 
of mischief. One day they saw some Irishmen blasting 
rocks and liked to hear the report of the blast, to see the 
flash from the powder and the pieces of rock fly in the 
air. Soon after this the boys decided to have some fun 
and play with gunpowder and make a blast like the 
quarrymen. Tom’s father kept an old-fashioned rifle and 
powder-horn. The horn was full of powder. George per- 
suaded Tom to get his father’s powder-horn. Tom got 
the horn without his parents knowing it. Then the boys 
all went to a lane near the house and dug a hole in the 
bank. They also built a fire of some sticks near by. 

George took the powder-horn and poured a handful of 
powder into the hole in the bank. He then took a live 
coal out of the fire and dropped it into the hole, while Tom 
and his brothers ran off to a safe distance. 

Now it happened there was no fire on one side of the 
coal, so the powder did not ignite. The fire was on the 
upper side of the coal, as it fell into the hole, so it did not 
touch the powder. The boys waited awhile and as the 
powder did not burn, they all came up closer to the little 
mine in the bank. Then George took the powder-horn 
and went up close to the hole. He held the horn over it 


22 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


and poured the powder in a stream into the hole. It fell 
upon the coal of fire and all at once there was a loud re- 
port and the dirt and gravel flew in every direction. The 
blast had gone off and so had a large part of George’s 
pants. The flash from the powder went up his trouser- 
legs and tore them off. His legs were terribly burned 
and blistered all over. The powder-horn was burst in two 
in his hand and the pieces flew away. One piece struck 
Tom on the forehead and the other piece struck one of his 
brothers. They were not hurt much but they were very 
much frightened. George ran home and the doctor dress- 
ed his burns. It was several weeks before he got well. 
The boys did not want to experiment with gunpowder 
again very soon. They had had all the experience they 
wanted. This is a true story and happened a good many 
years ago. 


PEASANT TRUTH. 


There was once a poor countryman who was never 
known to tell a lie. He always told the truth, so that by 
and by everybody called him “Peasant Truth”. He was 
honest and tried to do right. At last the king heard of 
the truthful peasant and invited him to his palace. He 
chose him to take care of his flock of goats and sheep. 
In this flock there were only one goat, a ram, one wether 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 23 

and a lamb. So Peasant Truth took the flock to the 
mountain side and took care of it. Each Saturday he 
went to the king and reported how the goat and sheep 
were getting along. The king paid the peasant well and 
he was very happy and contented. 

Now it happened there was a wicked man at the court 
of the king. He envied Peasant Truth and wished to rob 
him of his business. He talked to the king and told him 
the countryman was not really truthful. The king trust- 
ed the peasant. The wicked courtier then said that if the 
countryman did not lie on the next Saturday about the 
sheep, the king might cut off his head. The king agreed. 
After that the courtier went away to think how he could 
lead Peasant Truth into trouble. He could not think of 
anything good so he told his wife all about it. His wife 
was a very beautiful woman and she told her husband 
that she could manage it. She put on her finest robes 
and fastened a diamond star upon her forehead. Then 
she went out to the fields where Peasant Truth was watch- 
ing his flock. When the countryman saw her he was very 
much surprised and charmed. The lady pretended to be 
in much trouble and the countryman promised to do any- 
thing for her. She told him, with tears, that she was 
starving and must have roasted mutton to eat. The peas- 
ant was sorry. He told her he could not kill any of the 
sheep because they belonged to the king. The lady wept 
and said she would die. Then the countryman killed the 
wether and roasted the meat for the beautiful lady. 

After eating, the lady departed and Peasant Truth wor- 


24 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


ried about the sheep he had killed. He thought the king 
would punish him. He thought how he could escape. 
He thought he would tell the king that the sheep had 
died. Then he thought he would say, a robber had stolen 
it, or a wolf had killed it. But these would not be true 
and Peasant Truth said he could not tell a lie. On Sat- 
urday he went to the palace to report about his little 
flock. 

When the king asked him about the goat, the ram and 
the lamb, he said they were all well and frisky. But 
when he asked about the wether the peasant was very 
sorry and told the king he could not lie. He told him 
about the lady with the diamond star and how he had 
killed the wether for her to eat. 

The king was pleased because the peasant would not 
lie. He forgave him and rewarded him. Peasant Truth 
was very glad that he had done right and was happy. 
The courtier failed to entrap the peasant and lost his fool- 
ish head. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


25 


GINEVRA. 

Many years ago a wealthy man named Orsini, lived in 
a beautiful villa, near the city of Modena in Italy. Beauti- 
ful grounds surrounded his home and costly things filled 
the house. He had an only child, Ginevra, whose mother 
died when she was very young. Orsini loved his daughter 
very much. He watched over her carefully and never 
let her go away from him. She grew up beautiful, pure 
and good. 

When she was very young she became a bride. She 
married Francesco Doria. He was an only son and her 
playmate from childhood. There were many guests at the 
wedding. The bride was gay and happy and danced with 
many. She became tired and in a fit of playfulness, ran 
away to hide. She ran away from her young husband, 
laughing and looking back. She hastened to the attic- 
rooms of the mansion where many old things were kept. 
In one corner there stood an old, curiously carved, oaken 
chest. It was very large and strong. Ginevra ran up to 
this chest and opened it. She sprang inside and closed the 
lid. Alas, poor Ginevra! There was a spring-lock and as 
the lid closed, it snapped fast. The beautiful bride was 
imprisoned forever. 

In the large dining hall the wedding guests sat down to 
the bountiful feast. Here was Orsini and Francesco; Gin- 
evra, alone was missing. All expected she would soon re- 
turn. They waited, then they began to look about anxi- 


26 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


ously. Still Ginevra did not come. Fear and anxiety fill- 
ed every heart. Orsini and Francesco searched every- 
where for their loved one, but they never saw her again. 
The guests returned to their homes, sorrowful and sad. 
Francesco could not live without his bride. He went to 
the wars and flung his life away in battle. Orsini lived 
alone. His hair and beard grew long and white. Every- 
day he wandered sadly about his beautiful grounds and 
through the broad halls of his home. He seemed to be 
looking for some one. At last he died and his villa passed 
to strangers. 

Many years had passed until one day some people who 
lived in Orsini’s villa were in the upper rooms. Here they 
found many curious things stored away. At last they 
came to the large carved chest in a dark corner. They 
wondered what was in it. They moved it out to the light. 
It was old and worm-eaten. It was easily opened and 
the people were startled to find a skeleton within it. 

Among the bones they found a string of pearls, a wed- 
ding ring and a gold brooch with the name “Ginevra” en- 
graved on it. Then they remembered the story of Ginevra 
and knew what had become of her. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


27 


CHRISTMAS TIME. 

Frank Lollard was an only child. His parents lived in 
a large city and he got almost everything he desired except 
that he did not get to play very much. His mamma’s par- 
lor was large, hut it was full of costly furniture and pretty 
things. He did not like to go there for he was always 
afraid of breaking something, and when visitors came, he 
had to sit very still. His uncle Ben also lived in a fine 
home in the city and Frank often went there to see his 

cousins but the yard 
was so full of flowers 
and shrubbery that 
they could not romp 
as they would like. 
His uncle Tom, how- 
ever, lived in the 
country on a large 
farm near the village 
where his grandpa 
lived, before he was 
born. His mamma 
often told him about this village. The streets were nar- 
row and crooked and the houses were low and odd looking- 
She told him the old church with its low square tower was 
the most important building in the place. All the people 
went to church there, no matter if the snow was deep and 
the weather cold. There were no stay-at-homes. 

Frank often thought he would like to see this strange 



STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


-28 

village and visit his country cousins. He thought, though, 
it must be very lonesome and dull in the country. He 
felt sorry for his country cousins — there were six of them 
— because he thought they never had much fun. It was 
npt long till he found out his mistake. 

About a week before Christmas Mr. Lollard received a 
letter from uncle Tom, inviting them all to spend Christ- 
mas and the holiday week on the farm. Uncle Ben. re- 
ceived a similar invitation. Of course they all decided to 
go. Frank thought a whole week was a long time to stay 
in the country. He -was afraid he would not enjoy it. 

The city folks reached the farm the day before Christ- 
mas and were heartily welcomed by their country cousins. 
Altogether there was a big crowd of them and the fun 
soon began. Everything was strange to Frank. What 
big low rooms in the house! What a big yard and such a 
great barn! The snow lay deep on the ground bui$n the 
road it was tramped smooth and hard. They all went out 
to coast on the big sleds— what fun! They went to the 
barn and romped on the haymow — no danger of breaking 
anything and they could halloo and shout all they pleased 
without bringing the police to -see what was the matter. 
Frank thought if this was living in the country it was not 
so bad after all. 

That night there were ten pairs of stockings hung up 
on the mantels. Frank had never seen so many and he 
wondered if Santa Claus could fill them all. The next 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


29 


morning his doubts were banished, for every stocking was 
full to overflowing with: 

Goodies, toys, books and balls. 

Sugar-plums, handkerchiefs and dolls. 



At the sight of it all, what a shout went up. Frank was 
somewhat frightened and wondered if uncle Tom and 
aunt Nan wouldn’t scold them all for making such a noise. 
Not a bit of it. Noise did not count in the country on 

Christmas and 
the children 
enjoyed their 
gifts to their 
heart’s con- 
tent. 

After a late 
breakfast the 
children and 
their parents 
bundled into the great farm sled and drove to church in 
the village — the same church with the square tower that 
grandpa used to go to. Here the good man told them 
the story of the birth of Christ and that it was right for 
all to come and thank God for sending them a Saviour. 
Frank understood almost everything the preacher said and 
wondered why he could never understand the minister in 
the big church at home. After church they had a delight- 
ful ride in the country and got home just in time for the 
biggest dinner the city folks ever saw. What a turkey! 
Frank thought it must be an ostrich, it was so big. Then 


30 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 

at the other end of the table was a young pig roasted 
whole with a lemon in its mouth and a boquet in the curl 
of its tail. In the middle of the table was a great plum 
pudding, trimmed with holly leaves and red berries. Be- 
sides such mince and pumpkin pies and doughnuts and 
great, red apples, Frank had never tasted or seen before. 

After dinner they had more out-door sport, but it was 
in the evening, after the lamps 
were lighted that the best fun 
began. All assembled in the 
great parlor which was trim- 
med with mistletoe and holly, 
and played various games. 

The best game of all was 
blind-man’s-buff. They had 
plenty of room to run in and 
such ducking, such dodging, 
such advances and retreats 
and such peals of laughter 
when one was caught, made the old folks wisn mey were 
young again. “Merry Christmas! Happy boys and girls!” 
exclaimed uncle Ben as he stood before the fire enjoying 
the fun of the youngsters. After blind-man’s-buff they all 
sat down and told stories and riddles and cracked jokes 
and ate nuts and roasted apples until they were tired and 
sleepy. Then they went to bed and Christmas day was 
ended but it was long before it was forgotten. 

Frank liked all his country cousins very much — they 
were all jolly and good-natured — but he liked his cousin, 



STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


31 


Mildred, best of all. Mildred, was deaf. She could not 
shout and talk, but she was bright and joyous. He 
thought it strange she could be so happy but he noticed 
that she was just as contented and full of fun as any of 
them. The next day Frank and Mildred took a stroll to 
the woods with her mamma. He liked to watch them talk 
with their fingers as you see in the picture. He could not 
understand a word they said but liked to see the nimble fin- 
gers fly. In a day or two he learned to spell himself and 
felt proud of being able to talk to Mildred. The week pass- 
ed very rapidly and Frank was sorry when the time came 
to go home. He had thought it would be very dull in the 
country, but it turned out to be the happiest Christmas he 
had ever had. He invited Mildred and the rest to spend 
the next Christmas with him in the city. 

Perhaps I may be able to tell you about that visit some- 
time. 


BOYS AND MONKEYS. 

There was a man w T ho owned a large orange plantation in 
the South. 

When the oranges became ripe, he employed many small 
boys to pick them, wrap them in tissue paper and pack 
them in boxes. 

One day a gentleman came to the grove with a monkey. 


32 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


It was very funny. It watched the boys pick oranges 
for awhile, then it scampered up a tree very quickly, 
picked an orange, brought it down, wrapped it in paper and 
put it in a box and then grimaced at the boys. The owner 
of the orchard was amused. He thought monkeys might 
make good pickers and so he bought a dozen monkeys and 
taught them to pick oranges. For awhile they did very 
well but by and by they became very careless and lazy. 
They had to be watched all the time or they would play or 
quarrel among themselves. The overseer of the plantation 
did not watch the boys at work. They had good sense and 
knew what to do after being told. The monkeys were 
mischievous and foolish. 

When the overseer’s back was turned, they would stop 
working. Sometimes they would throw oranges at each 
other and spoil the fruit, or they would chase one another 
up and down the trees and shake the oranges off and so 
bruise them. When the overseer held a stick in his hand 
and watched them, they would be very good but they could 
not be watched all the time. The longer faithful boys re- 
mained in the orchard, the more useful they became for 
they learned all the time. When they grew up, some of 
them became orange growers themselves. But the longer 
the monkeys stayed the more troublesome they became 
until at last, they were of no use and had to be sent away 
altogether. They learned nothing more than they knew 
at first. 

Now some boys are like the monkeys. They learn a lit- 
tle but do not improve. They do not like to work and 


33 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 

have to be watched and threatened like monkeys. They 
get into mischief and are quick to learn the foolish things 
they see other people do. In short, their minds do not 
grow and they soon become useless. Nobody wants to 
employ them and they are turned away and avoided. 
They are little better than chattering monkeys for they 
love to talk and talk about silly things all the time. A 
sensible boy likes to be busy and useful. He wants to 
learn useful things and improve his mind. His mind 
grows and he understands how to do things. He is not 
like the monkeys for he does better and better every day. 
Ho not be a monkey, for it is only fit to be looked at and 
made fun of. Be a man. 


-o 


FOUR BROTHERS. 

There were four brothers. Said the eldest, “I want 
to be useful and do some good in the world. I will make 
bricks for they are useful things, so I will be doing some- 
thing.” 

The second brother would not make bricks. It was too 
humble. A machine could make them. He would be a 
bricklayer and become a master bricklayer in time. He 
thought that was something better than making bricks. 

“The master bricklayer is nothing much,” said the third 
brother. You will only be counted among common men. 


3 


34 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


I will be an architect and people will think I am smart. 
That is something .” 

The fourth brother turned up his nose at the humble 
occupations of his elder brothers. He would not be so 
low. They were only drudges. He would be something 
grander. He would stand back and watch the others 
work. He would point out their defects and lack of sense. 
He would be a critic. Said he u In every work there is 
something that is not right. I will find that out and find 
fault with it. That will be doing something real.” 

Time passed. The brothers pursued, each, his chosen 
course. The fourth brother kept his word and found 
fault with every one. He did no useful work himself but 
he was always busy with the work of others. Nothing 
was done right. He was eloquent. People said of him, 
“He has a great head but he does nothing.” 

The eldest brother was humble but very busy. He 
made enough bricks to build rows and rows of houses. 
He fed and clothed his family and had something left for 
the poor. There were many broken bricks and these 
were useful too, for he gave them to a poor widow who 
lived on the bank above the sea. Of them she built her 
hut and was happy. 

The bricklayer employed many artisans and built one 
house after another until he had built a whole street. 
This brother lived in a fine house and the working people 
flattered him. When he died he was forgotten. 

The third brother, the architect, lived in the finest 
house on the street which his brother had built. The 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


36 


street was named after him. When' he died he left his 
name but only in paint on the corners of the street. 

The critic outlived them all and he had the last word to 
say. At last he, too, died and his soul ascended to the gates 
of Paradise. There he met the soul of the poor widow who 
had lived by the sea. Said the critic, “What have you 
done and why are you here?”, 

Just then the gates of heaven opened and the angel led 
the poor woman in. To the critic he said, “What dost thou 
bring? In all thy life thou hast, not made as much as a 
single brick. I can do nothing for thee.” 

Then the old dame spoke for him, “For the sake of his 
brother who gave me the broken bricks, mayst .he not be 
admitted?” Then the angel said, “For the sake of thy 
brother, whose honest labor seemed most humble to thee, 
thou mayest have hope of heaven. . But thou shalt not 
be admitted until thou hast done something. 

“I could have .said that in finer words,” thought the crit- 
ic, but he did* not , find fault aloud. That to him was 
something. 


36 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


THE STORY OF PAUL. 

Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the dead. He 
appeared unto his disciples and then ascended into heav- 
en. After that his disciples boldly preached Christ, the 
Savior. The Jewish high priest and others opposed them. 
The disciples were persecuted. Stephen, a good man, was 
stoned to death. A young man who witnessed this mur- 
der was Saul of Tarsus. He was afterwards called Paul. 
Paul was learned in all the teachings and laws of the 
Jews. He encouraged the persecution of the Christians. 
He went from place to place to hurt those who dared to 
speak for Jesus. 

There were some disciples of J esus in Damascus. Thith- 
er Paul went to bind them and put them in prison. When 
he drew nigh unto the city, suddenly a great light shone 
about him and he fell on his face upon the ground. He 
heard a voice from heaven calling his name. He knew 
it was the voice of Jesus. He was blind, so he asked Jesus 
what he should do. Then the Lord told him to rise and 
go into the city of Damascus. Then his friends led him 
into the city, to the house of Judas. Then Ananias, a dis- 
ciple of Jesus, being led by the spirit, prayed for Paul and 
he received his sight again and was baptized. Then Paul 
went into the synagogue and talked about Jesus. He 
proved that he was indeed the Christ. The Jews were 
astonished and angry because Paul had become a Christ- 
ian. They wished to kill him, but his friends took him 
and let him down in a basket over the walls of Damascus 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


37 


and he escaped and went back to Jerusalem. He was 
very brave and preached for Jesus. The Jews in Jerusa- 
lem were surprised at first, then they were very angry 
and tried to kill Paul, but he escaped. 

Paul was very wise and eloquent He talked to the 
people and many believed and became Christians. He 
went away from Jerusalem to other cities and taught the 
people about Jesus. He was the first Christian mission- 
ary. He went to Antioch, Philippi, Ephesus, Athens, Cor- 
inth and other cities. Some people believed him while 
others mocked. At Lystra Paul healed a cripple and the 
s im ple people would have worshipped him but he rebuk- 
ed them. The Jews from other places followed him to 
Lystra and stirred up the people against him. Then they 
stoned him and drove him away. At Philippi Paul and 
his companions were cast into prison but during the 
night an angel opened the prison doors and a great light 
shone about. The jailor supposed his prisoners had es- 
caped and would have killed himself for he feared the 
Roman governor. But Paul called to him and told him 
they were still there. Paul talked to the jailor and he 
believed in Jesus, and he and his family became Christ- 
ians. 

Another time when Paul was at Troas he preached all 
night in an upper chamber. During the night a man 
named Eutychus, being very sleepy, fell out of the win- 
dow. His friends said that he was dead, but Paul went 
down and restored him to life again. And many people 
saw and believed. 



38 STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 

Paul returned to Jerusalem against the wishes of his 
friends. Here his enemies seized on him and would have 
killed him but the Roman centurion rescued him and 


sent him to Caesarea, to the governor, Felix. He remain- 
ed in prison at Caesarea two years. He was bound with 
chains. At last King Agrippa and Bernice visited Caesarea 
and desired to see Paul. Paul stood up with the chains 
on his arms and talked to them. He told them about 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


30 


J esus and himself and how he had been converted. King 
Agrippa said to Paul, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a 
Christian.” Paul wished that the king was indeed a 
Christian like himself but without the chains. 

Paul had desired to be sent to Rome, so in charge of 
some Roman soldiers, he was sent thither. They sailed 
from Caesarea to Crete and other places. On the voyage 
they encountered a terrible storm. They cast overboard 
many things to lighten the ship. At last they ran the 
ship aground on the island of Mileta. The soldiers want- 
ed to kill Paul and the other prisoners for fear they 
would escape, but Paul persuaded them not to do so. Then 
all on board swam ashore. It was cold and chilly, so they 
gathered up dry fagots and made a fire. As they stood 
about the fire a viper sprang out and seized on Paul’s 
hand. The people were surprised. They expected to see 
him fall down and die from poison. But Paul shook the 
viper off into the fire and felt no harm. The people won- 
dered. 

After three months they sailed in another vessel to 
Rome. Paul lived for two years in his own hired house 
in Rome but he was a prisoner and could not go away. 
He wrote letters to his friends in Asia and encouraged 
them. He taught the people in Rome about Jesus and 
many believed and became Christians. 


40 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


THE GREAT CIVIL WAR. 

The Great Civil War took place thirty-five years ago. 
This war was between the people of the North and the 
people of the South in the United States. It was on ac- 
count of slavery. The people of the North did not keep 
slaves but the people of the South did. They had a great 
many negro slaves. The negroes worked on the large 
plantations of the South and raised cotton, tobacco, rice 
and other things. The owners of the slaves did not pay 
them for their work, but they gave them cabins to sleep in 
and food and clothes to wear. Sometimes these slaves 
were kindly treated and sometimes they were not. The 
people of the North thought it was wrong to keep slaves 
and they thought the people of the South were very cruel 
to the negroes. They began to talk against slavery. They 
said the negroes should be free because they were “God’s 
creatures.” 

This made the Southern people very angry. They want- 
ed more slaves and they tried to take slaves further West. 
To this the Northern people would not consent. 

At last the people of the South declared they would break 
up the Union and make a new nation of their own in the 
South. Several states seceded and began to make laws of 
their own and govern themselves. They called their new 
country, “The Confederate States of America.” 

Abraham Lincoln, who became president soon after this 
sent soldiers to the South to make the people obey the laws 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


41 


of the United States, but the people resisted. So the Great 
Civil War began. 

This war lasted nearly five years. It was the most ter- 
rible war that had ever occurred. Thousands and thou- 
sands of soldiers were killed in battle. Many other thou- 
sands died of wounds and sickness. Others died in prison. 
During the war the bodies of the dead soldiers were sent 
home and buried in the cemeteries all over the Northern 
and Eastern states as well as in those of the South. Al- 
most every city or town east of the Missouri has a soldiers 1 
cemetery. 


YELLOW HAIR AND BLUE EYES. 

There was once a little boy whose name was Tommy 
Fane. He had a little sister who was only four months 
old. Tommy loved his little sister very much, but he would 
have loved her more if she had had yellow hair and blue 
eyes. Her hair and eyes were black like Tommy’s. Tom- 
my did not like black hair and black eyes. He thought it 
would be very nice if he had a sister with yellow hair and 
blue eyes. There was a new house across the street from 
where Tommy lived. One day a family moved into it. 
While the people were moving things up stairs Tommy 
walked into the house to look around. The first thing he 
saw was a cradle. In the cradle lay a lovely baby with 
yellow hair and blue eyes. When Tommy saw the baby he 


42 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


said, “Oh dear! I wish our baby looked like this.” Then 
he wondered if his mother would not rather have this ba- 
by than her own. He stood admiring the baby awhile, 
then he lifted it from the cradle. It was so heavy he could 
hardly carry it. He held it tight and took it home and 
put it in his sister’s cradle. Then he carried his little sis- 
ter over to the. other house. In a little while the mother 
of the yellow-haired baby came to take it up stairs. When 
she looked into the cradle, she saw it was not her own ba- 
by lying there. She was very much frightened and thought 
somebody had stolen her baby. She took up the baby and 
ran across the street to tell somebody what had happened. 
She did not know Tommy’s mother but she walked right 
into the house forgetting to knock at the door. There she 
saw Tommy showing his mother the new little sister with 
yellow hair. The strange lady was very glad to get back 
her baby and so was Tommy’s mother. Both mothers 
cried a little at first, but they laughed when Tommy ex- 
plained to them why he had changed the babies. They 
did not scold Tommy for they knew he had not meant to 
do wrong. They were sorry he had made so much trouble. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


43 


JOB. 

Job was a good man who lived long ago. He lived long 
before Jesus came to be our Saviour. Job loved God and 
tried to do what was right'. God loved him and blessed 
him. Job was very rich and prosperous. He had seven 
sons and three daughters. He had large herds of cattle. 
He owned seven thousand sheep, one thousand oxen, three 
thousand camels and five hundred asses. He had a great 
many servants who took care of his flocks and waited on 
him. 

Now Satan did not like Job because he served God 
faithfully. Satan said that Job was good for pay, and if 
God took away his riches he would become wicked and 
curse God. God did not believe this, so He let Satan take 
away his wealth. Now much trouble came to J ob. In 
one day all his sons and daughters were killed in their 
house which the wind blew down. Robbers stole his oxen 
and asses and killed his servants. A terrible fire from 
heaven burned up his sheep while another band of rob- 
bers drove his camels away. So in one brief day Job be- 
came a poor man. He grieved for his sons and daughters 
but he did not complain. He loved and served God 
faithfully. 

Then more trouble fell upon Job. A dreadful disease 
seized upon him. He had painful boils all over his body. 
He suffered greatly. He scraped himself and lay down 
in the ashes and dust. When Job’s wife saw his suffer- 


44 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


ing she told him he should curse God and die. But Job 
reproved her and said she was a foolish woman. Job 
still trusted God but he could not understand why He let 
so much trouble come upon him. 

Job had three friends. Their names were Eliphaz, 
Bildad and Zophar. They talked to him about his 
troubles. They told him he had done something very 
wicked, and God was punishing him. They found 
fault with him and did not comfort him. Job told them 
he had done nothing wrong. He said God meant to teach 
him something but he could not understand it. He long- 
ed to see God, and because he suffered greatly, he wished 
to die. He complained because he thought God had 
forsaken him. 

At last Satan saw that Job could not be tempted to 
forsake his God so he left him. Then God pitied Job and 
spoke to him out of a whirlwind. Now Job saw that he 
had been very foolish to complain. He asked God to 
forgive him and make him better. God blessed him more 
than at first. He became very rich again and had more 
sons and daughters. He had fourteen thousand sheep, 
six thousand camels, two thousand oxen and one thousand 
asses. After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, 
so that when he died he was very old. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


45 


DECORATION DAY. 

For many years it has been the custom of the veterans 
of the Civil War and their friends to meet on May 30 of 
each year and proceed with bands of music and flowers to 
the cemeteries and decorate the graves of the fallen 
heroes. 

This beautiful custom of strewing flowers on the graves 
of the dead, it is said, originated with the ladies of the 
South. During the war it was their custom to place flow- 
ers on the graves of Confederate soldiers. From them it 
was adopted by the people of the North. In 1868, Gen. 
Logan, who was then commander of the Grand Army 
of the Republic, appointed May 30 for Decoration Day, 
because, it is supposed, the last soldier who enlisted for 
the war, was discharged on that day. 

“The everlasting peace of God 

Has wrapped the heroes round ; 

The winds breathe low, the daisies blow 
Above each soldier’s wound. 

The children seek in fields and wood 
The pale buds of the May, 

And white-haired matrons cull the flowers 
For this Memorial Day.” 


46 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


SAVED BY SHEEP. 

In the far west, snow storms often occur. Sometimes 
the snow falls so fast and thick that people cannot see far 
through it. Sometimes people get lost in the snow and 
freeze to death. Houses are far apart and there is noth- 
ing to guide one through the snow. 

Little Nellie Logan lived in Idaho. She was about six 
years old. She attended school which was some distance 
from her home. On Monday, Nov. 14, 1892, Nellie start- 
ed to school. She carried her dinner in a small lunch 
basket and her little dog accompanied her. Soon after 
she left home it began to snow very hard. The wind blew 
and soon the path was covered up. Nellie could not see 
far through the fast-falling snow and by and by lost her 
way. 

By noon she had not reached the school-house and her 
friends knew she was lost in the snow. A search for her 
was commenced at once. Parties of white men and In- 
dians wandered over the snow-clad 4 hills day and night 
hoping to find her ; Her friends did not expect to find her 
alive, but they hoped to find her body. On Wednesday 
her little dog was found frozen stiff. Still the search for 
Nellie was continued. At last, on Saturday, the little 
wanderer was found alive and well, but very weak. 

She was found with a dozen fleecy sheep in an old stock 
shed. She had snuggled in among the sheep and so es- 
caped death by freezing. Nellie told her friends that on 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


47 


Monday, while she was wandering about in the snow, she 
had heard the sheep bleating and went to them. Her 
friends were glad, indeed, to find her alive. They took 
good care of her and soon she got strong and hearty 
again. It was a wonderful escape. 


o 


DINING-ROOM TALK. 


The dining-room was closed and the curtains drawn 
down. The chairs were in their accustomed places and 
the table presented its usual tidy appearance. 

Everything was quiet and the clock on the mantel was 
humming its usual song, “Tick-tock, tick-tock.” 

All at once a deep sigh was heard from one corner and 
all looked in the direction and saw the head chair leaning 
forward as if in pain and a groan followed the sigh. 

“Why, what in the world is the matter?” exclaimed the 
table, fluttering its white covering in an important man- 
ner. 

“Matter enough,” replied the chair. “I am sick and 
weary of this hard, monotonous life.” 

“That is what I say,” piped one of the smaller chairs and 
all the rest echoed its words. 

“Ah,” sighed the head chair, “This life is almost unen- 
durable.” 


48 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


“Well,” inquired the table, “what special trials of life 
have you that others have not, I should like to know?” 

“Trials! yes, trials indeed!” exclaimed the chair. “Am 
not I and all my kindred constantly sat down upon? 
Are we not constantly held down and ground under bur- 
dens almost beyond our strength. Have not many of us 
actually broken down with the loads piled upon us. But 
it is not the burdens alone that we have to bear. We are 
pushed and kicked about in a manner to bring the blush 
of shame upon us. It is bad enough to be constantly 
supporting those creatures who go about on two legs, but 
when, as it often happens, one of them who weighs 
two or three hundred pounds, flops down upon 
us we are nearly crushed with the weight. Is it any 
wonder we groan audibly and shrink from such trials? If 
these creatures would only sit still when they are on us 
it would not be so bad, but when they wiggle about and 
push back and compel us to stand on two legs, or rock 
back and forth so we are kept jumping up and down, it 
fairly racks our frame. It almost breaks our back and 
makes all our joints crack.” 

Here a sigh passed among the chairs as they were thus 
reminded of the terrible strain they had all been subject 
to one time or another. 

“All that is bad enough,” replied the table, “but it is 
nothing to what I have to endure.” 

“What burdens can you have?” inquired the head chair 
still leaning forward. “You are treated with respect. 
You keep your place in the middle of the room. You 
are always kept nicely covered up and everything has to 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


49 


move around you and those two legged creatures bow 
down to you as if in worship. Yours seems to be an easy 
life indeed.” 

“Ah! listen,” replied the table, “and I will show you 
what I have to endure.” 

“In the first place my cover, which you seem to think 
so nice, is a burden, for it covers me up so I can hardly 
breathe. I am often seized by the head and foot and 
stretched out until I am on the point of breaking in two. 
Then the maid brings in the roast and places it square 
on my head and right beside it, she places a huge pile of 
plates.” 

“On my foot there is another pile of plates and other 
dishes, so with these weights I can move neither head nor 
foot. Besides this a row of plates and dishes are ranged 
along my sides and piled upon my back and some of them 
are so hot as to raise huge blisters on my delicate skin. 
Added to all these my little masters sit about me and jab 
me in the sides with their forks and spill hot tea and 
gravy upon me and I cannot raise the cover to cool the 
burns. My legs are often kicked and the skin knocked 
off. Now are not all these worse burdens than you have 
to bear?” 

“No, no,” replied the head chair, “I have not told you 
all by any means. Sometimes we are thrown down by 
Sarah, the maid, with such violence that we bump our 
heads very hard on the floor. And only the other day 
when the nurse was out at the corner talking to Bobby, 
the policeman, master Tommy came in and pulled me 
4 


50 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


down upon my knees, tied a leather thong around my 
ears for reins and then climbed upon my back and beat 
me with a cane. My ribs were almost broken and my 
back was terribly scratched. For this I was consoled, 
however, for when the nurse came in she shook Tommy 
real hard and took him away to the nursery.” 

“Tut, Tut,” said the clock. “All this talk will not help 
you nor make your burdens lighter. Every one has his 
work to do and the best way is to be patient and keep peg- 
ging away, as I do.” 

Saying this the clock struck six and the chairs and the 
table became very quiet and looked very grave as the 
dining-room maid came in, let in the sunlight and pre- 
pared for tea. She never suspected that a mutiny had 
almost taken place. 


o- 


CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. 

Four hundred years ago the people who lived in Europe 
did not know very much about the world. They thought 
the earth was flat. They tnought if men sailed far out 
on the ocean they would fall off. They believed that 
many terrible monsters lived in the ocean. They would 
not sail far away from land. Christopher Columbus was 
wise. He thought the world was round like a ball. He 
knew he could sail across the ocean. He believed if he 


COFFIN OF LEAD DISCOVERED IN THE CATHEDRAL AT ST. DOMINGO. 
CIn which was found what was believed to be the remains of Columbus.) 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW 


51 





52 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 

sailed to the west for many days, he would come to land, 
but nobody would believe him. They thought he was a 
crazy man. 

Christopher Columbus was born in the city of Genoa, 
Italy, in the year 1435. His father was not a wealthy 
man, but he sent Christopher to school. Afterward he 
sent him to college where he studied astronomy and geog- 
raphy. He liked to study geography and thought about 
the world very much. When he was fourteen years old, 
he went to sea. He liked to visit new countries. When 
he became older he thought very much about sailing to 
the west across the ocean from Europe. He had no 
money to buy ships so he asked his friends to help him 
but they only laughed at him. Columbus then went to the 
king of Portugal and asked him to assist him. He want- 
ed ships and men to sail west on a voyage of discovery. 
The king of Portugal refused to help him and deceived 
nim. 

Columbus would not give up. He next went to the 
court of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. 
He talked to them about the world and told them if he 
sailed to the west he would not fall off the world but 
come to land. At first Ferdinand and Isabella refused to 
help him because they were engaged in expensive wars. 
Columbus felt very sad and went away. He intended to 
go to some other king for assistance. After Columbus 
had gone, Queen Isabella repented. She sent a messen- 
ger after Columbus to bring him back. She promised to 
help him. She gave him three ships and enough men and 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 53 

money to make a voyage to the west. Columbus was now 
very happy. He hastened to get ready to sail. At last on 
the 3rd of August, 1492, he set sail from Spain in three 
ships, named the Santa Maria, the Pinta and the Nina. 

During the voyage Columbus had much trouble with 
his sailors. They became afraid and wanted to go back. 
They thought they would be lost. Columbus persuaded 
them to go on. At last on the 12th of October, 1492, they 
came in sight of land. Columbus and the sailors were very 
happy. They thanked God for preserving them. The 
next day they landed in the New World. They thought it 
was India. The island on which they landed was called 
San Salvador. They saw many strange things there. The 
plants and trees were not like those in Europe. They saw 
many strange people, too. They were nearly naked and 
were of a copper color. Columbus called them Indians be- 
cause he thought he was in the country of India. The 
Indians were kind and friendly but they were afraid of 
the Europeans at first. After a time Columbus sailed 
back to Europe. He took many strange things with him 
to show to Ferdinand and Isabella. 

He reached Spain in safety and the people were sur- 
prised and glad to see him. They thought Columbus was 
very wise and many people now wanted to go to the new 
land. The king and queen gave many presents to 
Columbus and made him governor of the new country. 
Columbus made three voyages to the New World, but he 
had many enemies. His enemies deceived good Queen 
Isabella and she allowed them to put chains on him and 


54 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


throw him into prison. Afterward Colnmbns was pardon- 
ed and released from prison, but he felt very badly about 
the way he bad been treated. 

He became very poor and died on the 20th of May in 
the year 1506. 


RAMPSINITUS AND THE ROBBER. 

There is an old story which tells about Rampsinitus 
who lived long, long ago. Rampsinitus was a rich, cov- 
etous king who possessed great treasures of gold and 
precious stones. 

He feared robbers, so he had a secret chamber built. 
Here he stored his treasures. 

Now, as the story goes, the builder of this secret 
chamber was a dishonest man. He placed in one of the 
walls, a large stone that would slide in and out. No one 
could detect this sliding stone but himself. 

As time passed the dishonest builder often removed 
this sliding stone, crept into the secret chamber and 
carried off gold and precious stones. At last he lay on 
his death-bed. Then he called his two sons and told them 
his secret. After that he died. 

The sons found the sliding stone and often robbed 
Rampsinitus’s treasury. Finally the king noticed that 
much gold and many precious stones were missing. He 
wondered how the robber could get into his secret chamber 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 55 

for the doors were bolted and barred. He determined to 
try to catch the thief so he set a strong trap among 
his bags of gold and diamonds in the treasury. 

That night the robbers came to get more gold. One 
robber went into the secret chamber and as he walked 
about he has suddenly caught in the trap. 

He could not get out for the trap was very strong. His 
brother, outside, heard the trap snap and went to see 
what was wrong. He found his brother sitting in the 
trap. He could not get him out. Then the robber who 
was fast in the trap told his brother to cut off his 
head and carry it away. The brother did not wish to do 
this but he saw if he did not, the king would capture 
thenrboth and put them to death. So he drew his sword 
and cut off his brother’s head. He left the body in the 
trap and carried the head away with him. 

The next morning the king came into his treasury and 
found the headless robber in the trap. He was astonish- 
ed. He could not tell who the robber was because his 
head was gone. He called his officers and detectives and 
ordered them to search for the robber that had escaped. 
They searched long but they could not find the robber. 
The king was furious. He ordered the body of the rob- 
ber who was caught in the trap, to be thrown out upon the 
street. He ordered a band of soldiers to guard it and 
watch the people who came to see it. He thought the 
robber’s friends would betray themselves by their looks. 
The robber’s brother, however, knew what the king meant 
so he made no sign, and the soldiers did not suspect him. 


56 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


At last the robber determined to steal his brother’s body 
away from the soldiers and bury it. He was smart. He 
got several asses and wine-skins. He filled the skins 
with wine and placed them upon the asses. He pierced the 
skins here and there so that the wine ran out. He drove 
ten asses along the street past the soldiers guarding his 
brother’s body. When the soldiers saw the wine flowing 
from the wine-skins, they ran with cups to catch the wine. 
They drank it. The robber pretended to be very angry 
with them. He tried to drive them away but they kept 
on drinking the wine. At last they could drink no more. 
They soon became drunk. They lay down and went to 
sleep. When it was dark the robber came and carried 
away his brother’s body. 

The next morning Rampsinitus found that the body had 
been stolen away. He was very angry but he thought the 
robber was very smart and cunning. He wished very 
much to catch him. Finally the king called the princess, 
his daughter, and bade her prepare a party. He told her 
when the people came to the party, she should promise 
five kisses, if they would tell the most clever things they 
had ever done. The princess consented. She prepared 
the party and many came. 

The robber came but he suspected that the king was 
trying to catch him. He was very careful. At last the 
princess called the robber into her room and he told her the 
smartest thing he ever did was to steal his brother’s body 
from the soldiers and carry it away. Then the princess 
knew that this was the robber whom the king wished to 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


57 


capture. She seized his hand and screamed for help. 
The robber gave his arm a jerk and ran away leaving the 
hand which the princess held. It was a false hand. 
When the king and his officers came to the princess, the 
robber was gone. Rampsinitus was outwitted again. 

He was very much surprised at the robber’s cunning. 
He declared before all the people that he would pardon the 
robber and give him his daughter, the princess, for a wife 
if he would show himself. Then the robber came forth 
and claimed his bride. He robbed no more and lived in 
peace with the king. 


-o 


ISSA. 

Thibet is in Asia, north of India. The people who 
live there are Buddhists. They worship Buddha, who 
lived and taught the people long before J esus came to be 
our Saviour. The priests of Buddha are called Llamas. 
They live in the temples of Buddha and also in monasteries. 

Not long ago a noted Russian traveller, named Nicholas 
Natovitch, was traveling in the mountains of Thibet. 
One day he had the misfortune to break his leg. He 
was carried to a Buddhist monastery and taken care of 
by the Llama in charge. While the traveller was at the 
monastery he learned that they had a very old story, in 


58 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


their own language of the life of Christ. This was the 
Buddhist account of J esus. Mr. Natovich tried very hard 
to buy the manuscript but the Llama would not sell at 
any price. He, however, allowed Mr. ISTatovich to have a 
translation of it. The Buddhists call Christ the prophet 
Tssa, and this is the way they tell the story: 

Issa was born of Israel parents who were poor but very 



pious. They were unfortunate in life but they never 
doubted God’s goodness. From his childhood Issa preach- 
ed one God. He never married. At the age of thirteen, 
he fled from his father’s house and went with some mer- 
chants to Sindah. When he was fourteen years old, he 
lived with the Arians in India. The people were Brah- 
mins. They worshipped Para Brahma. Issa rebuked them 
and told them that their god Brahma and their holy 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 59 

book Yeda were not divine. After this Issa learned the 
Pali language and all the mysteries of Buddhism. Then 
he went westward and preached against idols. He was 
twenty-nine years old when he returned to Judea. He began 
to preach and became very popular. The people liked him. 
Pontius Pilate, the ruler of Judea, was alarmed. Pilate 
commanded the priests and wise men to try Issa. The 
court examined Issa and decided that he was innocent of 
any wrong. 

Issa continued to preach to the people. He told them to 
obey Caesar and to respect all womankind. Pilate set 
spies to watch Issa. The spies reported that great multi- 
tudes assembled to hear him preach. The governor was 
alarmed. He thought Issa was trying to become ruler of 
Judea in his place. So Pilate caused him to be put in pris- 
on and tortured. He also had him tried before the Sanhe- 
drim, the Jewish court. Two thieves betrayed Issa and told 
lies about him in order to please Pilate. One of the thieves 
said that Issa claimed to be the king of Israel. Issa bless- 
ed this man and told him he should be forgiven because 
his words came not from the heart. Issa then told Pilate 
he was able to condemn an innocent man without bribing 
thieves to lie. This made Pilate very angry and he order- 
ed that Issa be put to death on the cross. 

The judges told Pilate that Issa was innocent and it 
was a great sin to condemn him. Then the priests and 
wise men went out and washed their hands in a holy ves 
sel, saying, u We are innocent of the death of a just man. 
Issa and two thieves were crucified. They were placed in 


60 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


their tombs, but on the third day Issa’s sepulchre was 
found to be open and empty. 

And this is the story of Christ as told by the Buddhists 
in Thibet. 


o- 


QUEEN ISABELLA. 

Queen Isabella of Spain was one of the best sovereigns 
Europe has ever had. She was wise, brave, generous and 
just. She was greatly loved by her people and honored 
by other sovereigns. She was born on the 23rd of April, 
1451. Her brother, Henry IV., was king of Castile and 
when he died in 1474, she became queen. Isabella mar- 
ried Prince Ferdinand, whose father, John II., was king of 
Aragon. John II. died and Ferdinand became king in 1474. 
The kingdoms of Castile and Aragon were then united 
and Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand ruled together. 

Long before Ferdinand and Isabella became King and 
Queen, the Moors had taken possession of the southern 
part of Spain. The Moors were dark people from Africa. 
They were not Christians. They built many large cities 
and palaces. They built the Alhambra in Granada which 
was thought to be the most beautiful palace in the world. 
The Moors had lived in Spain about eight hundred years. 
The Spaniards could not drive them out. Their cities 
were strong with walls around them. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


61 


Ferdinand and Isabella determined to drive the Moors 
back into Africa. In 1481 they began a war against the 
Moors. Queen Isabella wore a complete suit of armor and 
rode at the head of her army. They defeated the Moors 
in many battles, but the war was very expensive and the 
treasury of the king and queen was almost empty. About 
this time Columbus came to Spain, seeking assistance to 
make a voyage to the west. He was introduced to King 
Ferdinand and explained his plans, but Ferdinand, being 
rather dull and stingy, refused to help him. He said 
that he had no money to spend on such things. Colum- 
bus was disappointed but his friends went to Isabella and 
explained his plans to her. She was pleased but she did 
not like to give him money and ships because the war 
with the Moors was so expensive. At last the army of Fer- 
dinand and Isabella captured the city of Granada, the last 
stronghold of the Moors and they were driven out of Spain. 

Afterward Queen Isabella began to think she had not 
treated Columbus right, so she sent for him again. She 
promised to help him. She gave him money and ships. 
She was wiser than her husband who did not want to as- 
sist Columbus. 

Afterward when Columbus had discovered the New 
World, Isabella told him he must be kind to the Indians 
and teach them about God and Jesus. Columbus did not 
do this. He treated them cruelly and sent many of them 
to Spain as slaves. Isabella was displeased. She sent 
the Indians back to their homes and reproved Columbus 
for his cruelty. She was good and kind. She did not 
want the Indians to be treated unjustly. 


62 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


Queen Isabella had her own troubles too. Her son, 
Prince Juan, died and her daughter, Juana, lost her reason 
so that she did not know what she was doing. These 
things grieved good Isabella very much. But in all her 
trouble and grief she did not forget Columbus. She 
helped him all she could. She died when she was 53 years 
old. She was a beautiful woman, a wise sovereign, a 
good wife and a loving mother. Her suit of armor is yet 
preserved in Spain and beautiful monuments have been 
built to honor her memory. 


-o- 


THE LARK AND HER YOUNG ONES. 

A lark had made her nest in a field of grain. She had 
young ones in the nest and the grain was almost ripe. 
The lark was fearful lest the owner would come and cut 
the grain before her birdlings were old enough to fly away. 
Every day when the lark went away to get food for her 
young ones, she strictly charged them to report to her 
what they might hear the farmer say about the grain. 
One morning the farmer and his son came to the field to 
look at the grain. The young larks heard the farmer say, 
“This grain is now ripe. Go to our friends and neighbors 
and tell them to come, help us reap it.” When the old 
lark returned, the young ones, in much fear, reported what 
they had heard. They begged their mother to remove 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 63 

them at once. But the lark replied, “Do not tear. The 
grain will not be reaped tomorrow, if the owner depends 
on his friends and neighbors . 11 

The next morning the farmer and his son came to the 
field but nobody came to help them. Then the father said 
to his son, “Our friends and neighbors have not come to 
help us. Now go to your uncles and cousins and tell 
them to come and help us reap our grain . 11 Then the lit- 
tle larks were much frightened indeed. They told the old 
lark what they had heard and begged her to remove them 
quickly. But again the mother quieted them and said, 
“If the owner depends on his kinsfolk and relations the 
grain will not be cut tomorrow . 11 She bade them be very 
careful what they heard the next time. The next morn- 
ing the farmer and his son came to the field again but 
no one came to help them cut the grain. The man was 
disappointed. He said to his boy, “Get two good sickles 
and we will cut the grain ourselves tomorrow . 11 

Again the' young larks reported to the old lark, who re- 
plied, “Now indeed, we must move for when a man de- 
cides to do his own work it will be done . 11 So the old lark 
moved her young ones to a place of safety and the farm- 
er and his son cut down all the grain. 

This story teaches us that we must not depend too much 
on others. It teaches us it is best to do our own work 
when we can. If we want to get rich we must work for 
ourselves. If we want wisdom we must study and think 
for ourselves. 


64 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


THE GRATEFUL DOG. 

There was a little girl whose home was in Rome, Italy. 
She was about ten years old. She was a kind-hearted 
girl and always treated dumb animals kindly. Near her 
home, she often met a half-starved dog. This dog was 
not beautiful, nor was he clean, but the little girl pitied 
him because he had been treated unkindly and could not 



get enough to eat. She fed him with crumbs from her 
lunch and caressed him. The dog seemed to appreciate 
her kindness. 

One day the little girl was playing on a bridge which 
crossed the Tiber river. She was careless and fell from 
the bridge into the water. Many people saw her fall, but 
they could not help her. They ran about on the bridge. 
The policemen who saw her, were afraid to go into the 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


65 


water to save the girl, and she would surely he drowned. 

Suddenly a lean, yellow dog came barking to the river. 
He sprang into the water and swam out to the girl. He 
seized her dress and drew her to the shore. When he 
saw that she was safe he jumped about and barked loud- 
ly. He licked the girl’s face and hands and showed that 
he was very glad. It was the dog which the little girl 
had fed and treated kindly. He remembered her and 
saved her life. He was a grateful dog. 

It always pays to treat animals kindly. 


-o 


THE MILLER -AND HIS DONKEY. 

Once upon a time there was a miller. He lived long 
ago, but it does not matter where. He was not a very 
smart man but he was industrious and frugal. He work- 
ed hard in his mill and saved all he could. By and by he 
had saved enough to own a donkey. The animal was 
good and strong, and the miller thought he would sell it 
and get some money. There was a fair in the city some 
distance from the miller’s home. He concluded to take 
the donkey there and sell it. One bright morning he 
started to the fair with the animal and his son. They did 
not ride. The father and son walked along the road and 
the donkey walked between them. As they trudged 
along the dusty road they met a company of gay, young 

5 


66 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 



STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


67 


men. They were laughing and talking. They noticed 
the miller and his son walking and leading the donkey. 
They laughed and made fun of the miller because neither 
he nor his son rode. They asked him why one of them 
did not get on and ride. Then the son quickly sprang 
upon the beast and rode while his father walked by his 
side. 

A little further on they met some old merchants. They 
reproved the son who was riding. They called him a 
lazy lout because he did not walk and let his poor old 
father ride. Then the miller made the boy get off and he 
himself mounted the donkey. They travelled thus a little 
piece further and met a bevy of young girls. “What a 
shame!” exclaimed they, “that such a big, strong man 
should ride and make his poor boy walk.” They asked 
the miller why he did not let his son ride. Then the 
miller thought he would please the girls and told the boy 
to get up behind him. So both rode the donkey and 
made a pretty heavy load for it. 

Now they met many people on the road who noticed 
che two persons riding the little animal. They thought 
they were cruel and called them brutes. They said they 
ought to. be ashamed of themselves. At last the miller 
and his son both got off. Then, thinking to please the 
people, they took up the donkey and carried it along on 
their shoulders. They thought the people would think 
they were kind. But now the people laughed and shout- 
ed. It was very funny to see the miller and his son 
carrying the donkey. They said the miller had a very 


68 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


funny pet. They wanted to know if he kept his pet in 
the parlor and if it was made of glass. The people asked 
many other funny questions. At last the miller and his 
son became angry and threw the donkey oft* their shoul- 
ders. The miller said he had tried to please every one but 
could not. Now he w r ould please himself and do as he 
thought proper. After that he got along very well and 
the people did not find fault with him any more. 

This story teaches us that we cannot please everybody. 
We should do what is right and let people think as they 
please. 


FATHER PUMPKIN. 

In Cairo there lived a worthy Mohammedan. He was 
industrious and frugal but extremely poor. He tried his 
best to support his family in plenty but he never succeed- 
ed. At last he began to complain saying, “However I 
may toil and plan, the wolf is ever howling at my door . 11 
He saw that thieves and rascals always prospered so he 
began to doubt the justice of Providence. He talked to 
his wife, Fatama, and grumbling said, “Mohammed is Al- 
lah’s prophet, but what has Mohammed done to help 
boil my kettle, I would like to know. The thieves fare 
better and I am inclined to follow their business hence- 
forth. 1 ’ 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 69 

“Dog of an Arab!” cried his pious wife, “would you steal 
to better your means, and hasten Allah’s vengeance?” She 
bade him arouse for shame and cease repining at his 
fate. She told him he must go the Bazaar and take with 
him pen, paper and a book. She said he must sit in a 
corner, and look grave and solemn. He must read his 
book and make mystic scrawls upon his paper. He must 
pretend to be a wise and learned sheik, then people would 
flock to him to purchase his advice. The man thought 
this might be a good plan. So his wife took a hollow 
pumpkin and placed it upon her husband’s head. It 
made him look odd and grave. Then she bade him go 
off to the Bazaar and do as she had told him. 

The man obeyed his wife and goingto the Bazaar select- 
ed a quiet nook. There he sat and pored over his book 
with many a grimace and mystic look. Soon a customer 
appeared. It was a peasant in much distress. He said, 
“Good Father Pumpkin, I have lost my ass. You surely 
can tell me where to find him.” Now the man was 
much puzzled. He knew nothing about the ass and he 
began to scold Fatama for sending him there. At last, in 
despair, he told the peasant to go to the grave-yard for his 
ass. The peasant went there and found his ass. He was 
delighted. He returned and paid the sheik well. Father 
Pumpkin was surprised also, but he was glad. With his 
money he hastened home. He thought he had a wise 
wife. 

Next morning Father Pumpkin hastened to his post. 
Many persons had heard of him and each of them had 


70 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


lost something and wanted him to help them findj it. 
One had lost some money, another some silk, and another 
a lover. With solemn face the sheik told each one where 
to find what was lost. All turned out according to 
his advice. Thus it continued for many days and Father 
Pumpkin became famous and rich. He was afraid, how- 
ever, his luck might desert him, so he spoke to Fatama 
and said, “We are now rich and I shall quit my place in 
the Bazaar for we can now live without more work.” Just 
then a messenger from the Sultan arrived. He told the 
sheik that the Sultan had been robbed of all his costly 
jewels. He had sent for the sheik to come to the capital 
and find the robbers. The messenger told Father Pump- 
kin if he could not find the robbers, he would lose his 
head. Now the man was very much frightened indeed. 
He cursed Fatama because she had gotten him into trouble 
but he could not help it and had to go along with the 
messenger to the Sultan. The Sultan gave the sheik 
seven days in which to find the robbers. Father Pump- 
kin was in sore distress. He was sure he would lose his 
head. He took seven white beans and decided to swallow 
one of them at the end of each day. So at sunset he 
took the first bean, swallowed it and said aloud, “There 
goes one.” It happened that just then the leader of the 
band that stole the Sultan’s jewels was passing by. He 
heard the sheik’s remark and saw the uplifted hand. He 
was frightened and ran away as fast as he could fly. He 
told his companions that the cunning sheik had found 
him out. The next day the robbers sent another man 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


71 


who walked past the sheik. Just then Father Pumpkin 
swallowed another bean and said, “There goes a second.” 
The robber fled, amazed. The next night the robbers sent 
another man. As he walked past the sheik, he saw his 
hand raised and heard him say, “There goes a third.” Each 
night the robbers sent a different man and each time the 
sheik swallowed a bean and said, “There goes another.” 
So the robbers felt sure Father Pumpkin knew them all. 
They were in great fear. They took the jewels and went 
secretly to the sheik. They confessed their guilt. They 
gave him the jewels and asked him to forgive them. 
They promised that they would rob no more. Father 
Pumpkin was very glad to get the jewels. He made the 
robbers swear by the koran that they would sin no more. 
Then he sent for the Sultan and gave him the jewels. 
The Sultan was delighted to get his jewels again and gave 
the sheik money and presents. He also promised to give 
Father Pumpkin whatever favor he might choose. The 
happy sheik at once requested that a decree be published 
forbidding any one ever questioning him again of any 
matter, either great or small. It was done and Father 
Pumpkin returned home and spent the remainder of his 
life in peace and plenty. 


72 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


A LITTLE SPARTAN. 

Not long ago a little girl was hurt by a street car in 
Pittsburg. It happened she ran against the side of the 
car and was drawn under the rear wheels before the car 
could be stopped. She was pinioned under the heavy 
truck and was badly hurt but she did not scream or cry 
out. She bore the pain very heroically while they were 
getting her from under the wheels. When they got her 
out, it was found that she was badly cut and bruised 
about the head and face, and one leg was almost cut off. 
She bore the pain as bravely as a Spartan and never 
made a complaint. While waiting for the ambulance 
she lay in the conductor’s arms. She noticed the motor 
man’s watch chain and asked for it. It was given to her. 
She held it in her hand and smiled. “Don’t saw off my 
leg, doctor,” she said, as soon as one came to help her. 
She was taken to the hospital where the doctors did all 
they could for her, but in the evening she died from 
her injuries. It was pathetic to witness how patiently 
she bore her suffering. Her name was Alma Beck, and 
she was ten years old. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


73 


A CUBAN AMAZON. 

An amazon is a female soldier. Long ago there were 
whole armies of amazons. They made good soldiers and 
fought and conquered like men. 

It is said, in Cuba many women fight with the Cubans 
against the Spaniards, and some are braver and fight 
better than the men. These Cuban amazons are colored 
women. Their limbs are strong and their tongues are 
sharp. They can use the machete, revolver, rifle or knife 
as well as the men. Their dress is very simple. Usually 
it is only one cotton garment without shoes or stockings. 

Not long ago in a battle with the Spaniards a woman 
appeared in the front ranks of the Cubans and fought 
bravely. She fired her rifle as often and as accurately as 
the men. She was a tall, fine looking woman. By and 
by the Cubans began to retreat. They ran away and 
scattered among the trees and vines. The amazon did 
not run. She held her ground. She called on the fleeing 
Cubans to stay and fight like men, but tney did not heed 
her. Then she taunted them and called them cowards. 
The Spaniards came closer and closer. The woman was 
alone. She stood with her back against a tree and deter- 
mined to die, fighting for her country. She shouted 
“Long live free Cuba!” She loaded and fired her rifle at 
the Spaniards as fast as she could, and kept them back. 
After awhile her gun got out of order. She threw it down 
and drew her revolver. The Spaniards ran up closer, fir- 


74 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


ing at her as they came. When they were near enough 
the brave woman cheered again and opened fire with her 
revolver. She kept on firing until she fell, pierced by 
several bullets. The enemy rushed upon her. As they 
did so, the wounded amazon raised herself upon her elbow 
and fired her last shot at the nearest soldier, killing him 
instantly. She then sank upon the ground and' expired 
with a faint cheer upon her lips. 

This woman was a real heroine and a patriot. She 
showed that a woman may die bravely for her country as 
well as a man. She gave the Cubans an example of cour- 
age that they might well imitate. 


o- 


ELENORE AND NERO. 


Aunt Elsie had a little niece named Elenore. She was 
over two years old and had just began to lisp and prattle. 
She could say many cute things and all her uncles and 
aunts loved her very much. They thought a great deal 
of her. 

At Christmas time Aunt Elsie went out to her old home 
in the country to spend Christmas. The folks prepared 
to have a good time with roast turkey, plum pudding, 
pumpkin and mince pies and doughnuts. They also 
trimmed a tree in the parlor. Little Elenore was there. 
She was the pet of every one. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


75 


At this house there was a large dog named Nero. He 
was a mastiff, very large and strong. He was cross some- 
times and would not let the folks tease him. Nero seem- 
ed to like little Elenore very much. She would pull his 
tail or his fur and he was never cross. She could ride on 
his back and sleep with her head on his shaggy back. 



Nero would follow Elenore all about the house and let no 
one hurt her. He seemed to think she needed him to 
watch her. 

Well, the day before Christmas, while they were trim- 
ming the tree, they needed more green boughs and moss. 
They sent Aunt Elsie to the woods for them. It was not 
far to the woods, so she decided to take Elenore with her 
in her baby carriage. They wrapped the baby up warm 
with cloaks and shawls. As they started away, Nero 


76 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


came and wanted to go with them, but Aunt Elsie stamp- 
ed her foot and told him to stay at home. ISTero hung 
down his head and went into the house. 

When they reached the woods, Aunt Elsie cut a lot of 
green boughs and collected some moss. They were soon 
ready to go back to the house. Then auntie thought of 
the mountain tea which grew near that place. She con- 
cluded to go and pick some for Elenore. She left the ba- 
by in the carriage and hastened away among the trees to 
a place where the berries grew. She gathered a handful 
of the green leaves and bright berries and hurried back. 
She had been gone about ten minutes, but when she got 
back the carriage was empty. Elenore was gone. L She 
was very much frightened. She looked all around and 
called, “Elenore, Elenore , 11 but received no answer. She 
ran here and there through the woods but she could not 
find the baby. She was in despair. It was getting late 
so she hurried back to the house to tell her friends that 
Elenore was lost in the woods. When she reached the 
house she was out of breath and so frightened that she 
could not speak. She pointed at the empty carriage to 
make them understand that Elenore was lost. Elenore’s 
mamma took Aunt Elsie by the arm and led her into the 
parlor. 

Everybody was happy except Aunt Elsie. She looked 
at the tree, which they were trimming, and at the happy 
faces of her friends. Then she saw— what do you think? 
Why, Elenore and Nero, both fast asleep on the rug before 
the fire! She thought the child was lost, and there she 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


77 


was, safe at home. She was very glad indeed. Nero had 
followed them to the woods, and while Aunt Elsie was 
away, stole the child out of the carriage and brought her 
home. Was he not a sly old dog? 


ALICE. 

Alice was a little girl. She loved bread and butter and 
ate a good deal of it but she did not eat the crusts. She 
did not like them because they were hard. 

One day a lady told Alice if she ate the crusts, it would 
make her hair curly. Then she ate all her crusts because 
■she wanted curly hair very much. She thought curls 
were very pretty. She ate the crusts every day for a long 
time, but her hair did not curl. She was disappointed. 
She would not eat any more crusts. One day she ate 
several slices of bread but she left all the crusts. Her 
mamma reproved her and asked her why she did not eat 
the crusts. Alice said, “The lady told me, if I ate the 
crusts it would make my hair curly. I ate many crusts 
and my hair did not curl. The lady told me a story. I 
will not eat any more . 11 And she did not, 


78 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


MOLLY AND THE CANARY. 



A lady had a pet canary bird of which she thought a 
great deal. She took very good care of it. The lady did 
not like cats because several times they had tried to catch 
her canary. She could not trust the cats and did not keep 
any. One day some boys passed her house, carrying 

a kitten. She heard them 
talking and learned they 
were going to drown it. 
The lady was kind-hearted 
and did not like to think of 
the kitten being drowned, 
ghe called the boys to her 
and offered to keep the kit- 
ten. They said another lady 
would give them five cents 
to drown it. So she gave 
the boys five cents for the 
kitten and saved it from 
a watery grave. She call- 
ed it Molly. She took good 
care of it and as it grew up 
she noticed that the canary 
and Molly were very friendly. The kitten never tried to 
catch the bird. By and by the lady let the bird out in the 
room with the cat, while she was present. The bird would 
often perch upon Molly’s back or head without fear. They 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


79 


became more and more friendly, so at last their mistress 
often left them alone in the room together. She trusted 
Molly. 

One day the lady went away to call on a neighbor and 
left the canary and the cat alone in the room. When she 
came home she saw that there was something wrong. 
When she opened the door she discovered Molly on the 
mantel with the bird in her mouth, At first she thought 
she had killed her dear little bird. She seized a cane and 
was going to strike Molly with it but just then a strange, 
yellow cat sprang through the open window and ran 
away. Then the lady understood why Molly had seized 
the bird and got upon the mantel. She had saved it from 
the strange cat. 

As soon as the strange cat had gone Molly let the cana- 
ry go and went up to her mistress to be petted. The bird 
was not hurt the least bit, and the lady was very grateful 
to her cat for saving it. After this Molly always took 
care of the bird and the lady loved them both very much. 


80 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


tommy’s MISCHIEF. 

Tommy loved fun. He liked to do things for his own 
amusement. He did not care if it made trouble for others 
so he had a good time himself. He always looked out for 
number one. 

One day Tommy came home from school and learned 
that his mamma was sick in bed and there was a nurse 
taking care of her. Tommy did not worry about his 
mother. He thought it was a good opportunity to have 
some fun. He knew his mamma could not watch him 
and he could do as he pleased. He went out into the yard. 
He looked about for something to do. He found a long 
rope in the shed. He took it and made a lasso. First he 
threw the lasso at the chickens, then at the cat and the 
dog, but he did not catch any of them. 

By and by the nurse came out into the yard to do some 
work, then Tommy, threw the lasso over her head. He pull- 
ed it hard and threw her down. Of course she was very 
cross and tried to catch the mischief maker but he escap- 
ed. Then the nurse declared she would catch him at night 
after he went to bed. Tommy remembered the threat 
and planned to escape punishment. 

That night after supper Tommy had a talk with his 
younger brother, Ted. He asked Ted to change beds with 
him that night. Ted agreed to do so and they went to bed. 
Tommy was in Ted’s bed and Ted was in Tommy’s bed. 


STORIES, OLi) AND NEW. Si 

Tommy chuckled to himself for he knew he would fool 
the nurse. 

Pretty soon the nurse came into the bed-room. She 
walked softly to Tommy’s bed where Ted was lying. She 
turned down the cover and with a slipper, she whipped the 
boy real hard. He screamed and cried but she did not 
stop. She whipped him more and more until she thought 
he was well punished. She thought she had punished 
Tommy for it was dark and she could not see who it was. 
Tommy knew his brother was being punished unjustly, 
but he laughed to think how the nurse was fooled. 

In the morning the nurse found she had whipped Ted 
instead of Tommy. She was sorry for Ted and thought 
Tommy was very had indeed to play such a trick on his 
little brother. 


6 


82 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


LADY JANE OF LORN. 

Lady Jane of Lorn lived long, long ago among the hills 
of Scotland. She was beautiful and good. She had 
many lovers. One of them was a wealthy chieftain 
named Maclean. Lady J ane did not love him. She loved 
another man who was good, but poor. Her father, broth- 
ers and friends did not want her to marry the poor man. 
They made her take Maclean for her husband because he 
was rich and powerful. They were proud people and did 
not want a poor relation. Lady Jane was not happy and 
by and by Maclean became tired of his wife. He wanted 
to get rid of her. So he contrived to have her placed upon 
a large rock near the seashore and left her there alone. 
He knew when the tide came in the water would cover 
the rock and drown his wife. The next day he thought 
that she was dead. He prepared a coffin and placed stones 
and dirt in it. Then he called Lady Jane’s friends and re- 
lations to come to the funeral. He told them that Lady 
Jane had been sick and died. He pretended to be very 
sorry and wept. The friends of Lady Jane said nothing. 
They wrapped their plaids about them and silently follow- 
ed the coffin to the grave. 

Now it happened that Lady Jane was discovered on the 
rock by the sea before the tide came in and rescued. She 
went to her father’s house and told them about the cruel 
Maclean. So when Maclean told them that Lady Jane 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 83 

was dead they knew that he lied. They pretended to be- 
lie ve him until they reached the grave. 

Maclean asked them why they were so silent and why 
they kept their plaids wrapped around them. Suddenly 
each one opened his plaid and each had a long dagger in 
his hand. Maclean was frightened and turned very pale. 
Lady J ane’s kinsmen demanded that the coffin be opened. 
Then they saw the stones and dirt and asked Maclean 
why he had deceived them. He could say nothing but 
threw himself upon his knees before them and begged 
them to spare his life. They stabbed him with their dag- 
gers and killed him there. They put his body into the 
empty coffin and buried him in the grave he had meant 
for his wife. He was punished for his cruelty and 
treachery. 


84 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


SAVED BY A SPIDER. 

Years ago there was a cruel war between the North and 
the South in the United States. The Northern soldiers 
were called Union soldiers and the Southern soldiers,- Con- 
federates. It was a very bitter war. Thousands of sol- 
diers were killed in battle and other thousands died of 
sickness and in prisons. 

Often soldiers from both sides were sent out alone to 
collect information about the enemy. These men were 
called scouts or spies. It was very dangerous business. 
If a scout was discovered and captured, he would be hang- 
ed or shot. 

Once a Union soldier was discovered, spying about near 
the Confederate lines. He fled but was pursued. He was 
very cunning and eluded his pursuers a long time. At 
last he thought he was safe and wanted to rest for he was 
very tired. He found a large hollow log in the woods. 
He crept into it, feet foremost, and fell asleep. 

Soon after the soldier got into the log, a large spider 
came out of his hole and began to spin a web over the 
opening in the log. He spun his web, round and round, 
backward and forward until a net work was made. Then 
he disappeared. 

By and by the Confederates came along. They were 
looking for the Union soldier. The soldier in the log was 
awakened by hearing voices. He knew his enemies were 
near him. He thought he would surely be discovered, 



STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 85 

and his heart beat fast. The Confederates came to the 
log. When they saw the spider web over it they conclud- 
ed there was nothing in the log. They said aloud, “There 


is nobody in there,” and passed on. The Union soldier 
was very glad and thanked the spider for weaving his 
web over the opening of his hiding place. He slept in 
the log all night and the next morning he escaped to the 
Union lines. He told his friends about the good spider 
which had saved him from the hands of the enemy, 



86 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


THE BRAVE PILOT. 

There was a large! steamer which plied on the lake. 
One day the boat was crowded with passengers and was 
running far out from the shore on the lake. All at once 
an alarm of fire was sounded. The crew could not put out 
the fire. The passengers were panic stricken and ran 
about wringing their hands. They thought they would 
surely be burned up or drowned. The captain of the boat 
ordered the pilot to steer the vessel to the shore. Then 
the engineer put on steam and the boat went very fast 
shoreward. The flames spread rapidly and soon the rear 
part of the boat was all burning. The flames roared and 
hissed all about the pilot house and the pilot’s clothes were 
on fire but he did not desert his post. The people on the 
steamer crowded to the fore part of the vessel. They 
thought they would never reach the shore. If the pilot 
left the wheel they would be lost. The flames grew hot- 
ter and hotter. The pilot’s hands and arms were burned 
but still he guided the boat toward the shore. Nearer and 
nearer they came to land. Would the pilot fail? No, he 
was determined to save the people’s lives. His clothes 
were now all on fire and one hand hung helpless at his 
side still the boat kept on its course. At last the keel of 
the boat grated on the pebbly shore and the people were 
saved. They fled from the burning vessel. But where 
was the brave pilot? As soon as the boat touched the shore 
he sank exhausted upon the floor of the pilot-house and 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


87 


perished in the flames. He saved others but himself he 
could not save. He died a hero. He gave his life to save 
others. He was remembered and loved by the people 
whom he had saved. 


-o 


THE LION AND THE SPANIEL. 

There is a place in London called the Tower. Many 
years ago wild animals were kept in cages in a part of 
the Tower. People could go there and see them. At one 
time they had a lion at the Tower. He was very large and 
fierce and a great many people wanted to see him. They 
had to pay a small fee to see the king of the forest. If 
any one could not pay the fee he might bring a live cat 
or dog to feed to the lion. A good many live animals had 
thus been given to the lion and he had always torn them 
in pieces instantly and devoured them. 

Well, one day a small boy wanted to see the lion but he 
had no money. He captured a pretty little spaniel on the 
street and carried it to the lion. The dog was thrown into 
the cage. It shrunk back into a corner, whined pitiously 
and trembled. The lion was not hungry. He walked up 
to the spaniel and looked at it. He turned it over with his 
paw and smelled at it. He crouched and played with it. 

The keeper, seeing this, brought a mess of food and put 
it into the cage. The lion would not eat it. He wanted 


88 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


the dog to eat. By and by the dog began to eat, then 
the lion ate also. So they ate together and had a very 
friendly dinner. After that the dog and the lion were 
great friends and lived together happily. The lion was 
very kind and gentle and the spaniel was very bold 
and saucy. Often the dog would bark, pull the lion’s 
mane and bite his ears, but the lordly animal would 
never be cross or hurt the dog. 

A gentleman who had lost the spaniel found him with 
the lion. He claimed his dog and wanted to take him 
away. Tne keeper told him he might take the spaniel if 
he could but he dared not go into the cage, so he had 
to leave his dog there. The great lion and the little span- 
iel lived together a long time but at last the dog took sick 
and died. The lion did not understand it. He thought his 
little friend was sleeping. 

But as the dog did not wake up the lion began to feel 
uneasy. He smelled at the carcass of the dog. He rolled 
it over with his paw and brought it food. He seemed to 
be in great distress and could often utter a prolonged 
roar. They tried to take the carcass from tqe cage but 
the lion would become furious and fly at them violently. 
The keeper has afraid that the cage would break, so they 
had to let the body of the dog remain. The lion would 
eat no food. He lay down by the body of his friend and 
moaned. At last the lion died, it seemed, of a broken 
heart. The spaniel and the lion were buried together in 
one grave, 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


89 


THE STORY OF JESUS. 

In a country very far from here, there was a city called 
Bethlehem. One day a woman named Mary and Joseph 
her husband, came to Bethlehem. They came there to 
stay only a little while, so they went to the inn to lodge. 
But the inn was full of other people and there was no room 
for them. 

So Joseph and Mary went to the stable to sleep. In the 
stable there was a manger where the horses and cattle ate 
their food. Was the manger empty? No. If you could 
have looked in you would have seen a little baby there. 
This baby was Jesus the Son of God. God had sent him 
to Mary and she had no nice bed to lay him in, so she put 
him in the manger. 

On the night Jesus was born, some shepherds were out 
in the field near Bethlehem taking care of their sheep. 
And suddenly sweet music floated down from heaven and 
a bright light shone round about them. They raised their 
eyes and saw many shining angels. The angels told them 
about Jesus who had been born and was then lying in a 
manger. The angels said he was the Saviour. After that 
the angels went away into heaven again. 

After the angels went away the shepherds hastened to 
Bethlehem to see Jesus. They found him in the manger 
and they were glad. Afterward they went back to their 
sheep and told every one they met about the angels and 
the babe ? 


90 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 

And some other men came to Bethlehem to see Jesus 
also. They were called “wise men.” They lived far 
away from Bethlehem. Then how did they find Jesus? 
God sent a bright star and, seeing it, they knew that the 
Christ was born. The star moved in the sky and the 
“wise men” followed it to Bethlehem. There they 

saw the holy child and 
knelt down on the 
ground and worshipped 
him. They gave him 
costly presents and then 
went back to their own 
country. 

There was a wicked 
king in that country 
named Herod. He sent 
some soldiers to Bethle- 
hem to kill all the little 
children who were there. 
He did this because he wanted to kill Jesus. He feared he 
would be king in his place. So the soldiers came to Beth- 
lehem and killed all the little ones but they did not kill 
Jesus. God had sent an angel to tell Joseph the soldiers 
were coming. The angel told him to take Jesus and Mary 
away from Bethlehem. So Joseph arose in the night 
and took the child, Jesus, and Mary, his mother and went 
away from Bethlehem where the cruel soldiers could not 
find them. They travelled many days and came to Egypt. 
Here they stayed until Herod, the wicked king, was dead, 



STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


91 


then they returned to their own country. They lived in 
a city called Nazareth. 

Joseph was a carpenter. So Jesus lived in Nazareth 
and worked in a carpenter shop until he became a man. 
He was the Son of God but the people did not know it for 
no one had told them yet. 

When Jesus was twelve years old he went to Jerusalem 
with his parents. A great many other people went there 
too. While they were in that city Jesus got lost and his 
parents started away without him. When they missed 
their boy they returned to the city and looked for him. 
He was found in the temple talking and disputing with 
the priests and wise men. The wise men were surprised 
because he knew more than they did. 

John the Baptist lived in that country. He preached 
and told the people about the Christ. Now, Jesus came 
to John the Baptist and asked him to baptize him. Then 
John took him down into the water and baptized him. 
After that God spoke to Jesus so all the people could hear 
and a beautiful bird, like a white dove, came from heaven 
and lighted upon him. It was the Holy Spirit. After- 
ward Jesus went away alone into the wilderness. He 
staid there forty days and forty nights and did not eat 
or drink all that time. He was hungry. Then Satan 
came to Jesus and tempted him very hard to do wrong 
but he would not. And when Satan saw that he could not 
tempt Jesus he left him and angels came and gave him 
food. 

After Jesus had overcome the evil spirit, he went 


92 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


about the country, teaching the people about God. He 
told them he was their Saviour. He chose some poor 
fishermen to be his friends and go with him everywhere. 
They were his disciples. There were twelve of them. 
Jesus and his disciples visited many cities and preached 
to the people. He taught 
them to be kind and just 
and forgiving; he told them 
they must love and help 
one another like brothers; 
he showed them how to help 
the poor, the sick and 
those in trouble. He told 
many nice stories to inter- 
est and instruct the people. 

He performed miracles to 
show the people that he was 
the Son of God. Jesus 
turned water into wine; he 
made five loaves of bread 
and two fishes feed five thousand people;* he healed the 
sick when no doctor could cure them; he made the deaf to 
hear, the blind to see, the lame to walk; he raised the dead 
to life again. He made crazy people well; he walked up- 
on the water and calmed the storm; he made a fig tree 
wither and die, because it did not bear any fruit; he drove the 
wicked people out of the temple because they lied and 
cheated; he reproved the priests and the rich people who 
lived in that country, he called them hypocrites and 



STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 93 

told them to repent and humbly ask God to forgive them. 

Now, a good many people believed that Christ was the 
Saviour, but the priests and many others would not be- 
lieve him. They tried to hurt him and told lies about him. 
They wanted the rulers to put him in prison and kill him. 

At last Judas betrayed 
him, and his enemies took 
and bound him. They drag- 
ged him before Pilate, and 
slandered him. They said 
he must die. So Pilate 
commanded the good and 
loving Saviour to becrucifi- , 
ed. He let some soldiers 
take him away and beat 
and mock him and a crown 
of thorns was put upon his 
head. Afterward, being 
nailed upon a cross, he died. 

And as he died a great 
earthquake took place and the trembling people exclaim 
ed, “Truly, this was the Son of God.” 

After our Lord was dead some friends came and took 
his body and laid it in anew tomb. On the third day he 
rose from the dead. He appeared to his friends and en- 
couraged them. After that he ascended into heaven. 

Our Saviour died to save us froml our sins. He wants 
our love. He wants us to do good and be kind; he 
wants us to be saved and live with him forever. 



94 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


RUDELY AWAKENED. 

An ash wagon was standing in the street near the curb. 
There were some old boxes and barrels in the wagon. The 
owner was nowhere in sight. By and by a fat tramp 
came along. He noticed the wagon. He was tired and 
sleepy so he went and climbed upon the end of the wagon 
and sat down. He leaned back against the barrels and 
let his feet hang down outside. It was a comfortable seat 
and soon he went to sleep. 

Two mischievous street boys saw the tramp sleeping 
there. They also noticed that the wagon stood near a 
fire-plug. They soon decided to have some fun They 
procured a piece of strong rope and stole up to the wagon. 
One of them tied one end of the rope around the tramp’s 
ankle while the other boy tied the other end around the 
fire-plug. Then they ran and hid behind a house to see 
what would happen. 

Pretty soon the owner of the wagon came back. He 
climbed into his seat, cracked his whip and started his 
team. The tramp’s leg being tied to the fire-plug, he was 
dragged from tne wagon. He fell on his back on the hard 
pavement and his dreams were rudely interrupted. When 
the naughty boys saw this, they danced with delight and 
ran away. They thought they had played a good joke on 
the tramp, but I think it was not very kind. The tramp 
learned that it is not safe to go to sleep in the public street. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


95 


STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

Mr. H. lived in the state of New York but one summer 
he was visiting in Iowa. One day, during a thunder 
storm, he was out in a barn with some men. He was ly- 
ing at full length on a board, cracking jokes with his 
friends. All at once there was a blinding flash of lightning 
followed by a deafening clap of thunder. The lightning 
had struck the barn. It passed through and struck Mr. 
H. It burned a zigzag course from the crown of his head 
to his heel, and tore the shoe from his foot. Mr. H. was 
picked up unconscious and everybody supposed he was 
dead, but after several hours, he revived. After that he 
seemed to be all right and went about his business as if 
nothing had happened. It was a miraculous escape from 
death. Lightning usually kills a person when he is struck 
by it. This was an exception to the rule, and Mr. H.’s 
friends were surprised and delighted that he was not 
killed. 


9$ STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 

THE MAID OF THE INN. 

An inn is a house where travellers stop to get their 
meals and sometimes stay over night. Many years ago 
there were many inns in England and many travellers 
stopped at them to drink and eat. At one of these inns, 
there was a young girl, named Mary. She waited on the 
guests and brought them whatever they wanted. She 
was the maid of the inn. She was beautiful and good. 
She was always cheerful and tried to please everybody. 
She often prayed to God and she knew he would take care 
of her. So she was never afraid in the dark. Everybody 
liked her and many praised her. They knew that she 
was a true, good girl. By and by she had a lover. His 
name was Richard. Soon they were to be married. Now 
Mary’s friends did not like Richard because he was 
always idle and did not like to work. They thought Mary 
would be very unhappy if she married him. 

Well, one night it was very stormy. The wind blew 
hard and made the trees creak and groan. There were 
two guests at the inn. They were sitting by a table, 
smoking and talking about the weather. They thought 
it was a terrible night. 

A short distance from the inn there was an old ruined 
abbey. There were many dark empty rooms ana dark 
corners about the ruins. One of the men said he knevr 
no one would dare to go to the old abbey during such 
a stormy night. The other man said he knew Mary, the 
maid of the inn, would not be afraid. The first man 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


97 


laughed and said he knew Mary would be frightened by a 
white cow if she saw one. 

Then they called Mary and asked her if she would go 
alone to the old abbey. She said she would go and that 
she was not afraid. So it was agreed that she should 
bring a bunch of elder, which grew in the middle of the 
ruins to prove that she had been there. Then Mary put 
on her hood and shawl and started out. The wind blew 
furiously and soon she shivered with the cold. In a short 
time she reached the ruins and made her way over the piles 
of stones and through the dark rooms. The wind roared 
through the ruins but Mary was not afraid. At last she 
reached the clump of elder and quickly picked a bunch to 
take back with her. Just then she was startled by hear- 
ing voices nearby. Now she began to be frightened. In 
a little while the wind ceased to blow hard and she heard 
footsteps approaching. She trembled with fear but she 
quickly hid behind a broken column. She peeped from be- 
hind her hiding place and saw two men carrying a corpse 
between them. All at once the wind blew hard again 
and the hat of one of the men was blown from his head 
and rolled close to Mary’s feet. Mary thought she would 
surely be discovered and her heart beat fast. The men, 
however, were very anxious to conceal the dead body 
which they bore, so the man did not follow his hat and 
soon they passed on. 

When the men had gone Mary seized the hat and ran 
very fast out of the ruins. She rushed breathless into the 
inn and fell on the floor. She could not speak because 

7 


98 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


she was so frightened. Presently she noticed the hat 
which she had brought with her. Then she screamed and 
fainted away for she recognized her lover, Richard’s hat. 
She knew, then, that he was a murderer. 

Richard was caught, tried in court before a judge and 
sentenced to be hanged. 

Poor Mary! Her mind became weak and she soon lost 
her reason. She wandered about the village and never 
smiled again. Her clothes became ragged and torn but 
she did not notice them. Everybody felt sorry for her but 
they could not help her. They could not restore her mind 
again. 


-O' 


A STRANGE ACCIDENT. 

Mr. White, a farmer, was walking through the woods 
near New Castle, Pa., when he heard groans as of some 
one in trouble. At first he was startled and listened at- 
tentively. Then he went in the direction of the sounds 
and came to a large chestnut tree. He looked up into the 
tree and saw a man hanging by the seat of his trousers 
on a broken branch, thirty feet from the ground. 

Mr. White was very much surprised to see the man 
hangingup there. He shouted to the man but he did not 
answer. He was unconscious. Then Mr. W. called some 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


men and they took the man down. They carried him to 
a farm-house and laid him on a bed. 

By and by the man regained consciousness and told 
them how he happened to be hanging on the tree. He 
told them his name was Harry Hoyt and that his home 
was near Pittsburg. He was out of work and was going 
about the country looking for something to do. As he was 
walked along the road he noticed the chestnut tree and 
climbed it to get some nuts. While he was picking the 
nuts the limb on which he stood, broke. He fell a short 
distance when his trousers caught on the broken limb. 
He was thus suspended in the air, and could not free him- 
self. He hung there in the tree all the afternoon. He 
called and called for help but nobody heard him. By and 
by it became dark and at last he became unconscious. He 
was very glad to be safe again. If Mr. White had not 
heard him he might have died in the tree. It was a 
strange accident. 


100 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


A HUNTRESS. 

Mrs. Amelia Fisher lived in California. She was brave 
and could use a rifle as well as any man. She often went 
out hunting and was usually very successful. 

One day she was out hunting. She tramped about the 
mountain side until late in the afternoon. Game was 
scarce and she had secured nothing. J ust as she concluded 
to go home a large buck came in sight. She fired at the 
animal and gave it a mortal wound. It then disappear- 
ed among some bushes. The huntress followed the trail 
of blood which led into an open space. Here she saw a 
sight tha/t startled her. In the middle of the space lay the 
buck and a huge panther was feasting on his carcass. 
She did not expect to find such fierce game. In a moment 
her fear had disappeared and she advanced boldly toward 
the robber of her prey. When she was near enough 
she leveled her rifle and fired at the panther. Her aim 
was true and the beast lay dead beside the buck. 

Having killed the panther, the woman’s nerves gave 
way and she fell fainting on the ground. Here she lay 
two days without food or shelter and was found by a 
party of friends who had been out looking for her. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


101 


MAZEPPA. 

Many years ago a man named Mazeppa lived in Podolia 
a province of Southern Russia. He was clever and am- 
bitious. When he was a small boy he was a page at the 
palace of the king of Poland. 

When Mazeppa became a man he did something wrong 
which offended the king. He was arrested and the king 
decided to punish him severely. A wild unbroken horse 
was brought and Mazeppa was placed upon it naked. He 
was then bound fast on the horse’s back with his hands 
tied behind him. The horse was then turned loose to run 
where it pleased. Mazeppa was bound fast so he could 
not fall off. The horse rushed hither and thither through 
the thick woods and hedges. It leaped ditches and ran 
under the low branches of the trees. 

Mazeppa could not protect himself and he was terribly 
bruised and lacerated by the plunging of the animal and 
by the thorns ancl limbs of trees which thumped and lash- 
ed his bare skin as the horse ran about. 

The horse ran far, far away to the plains where the Cos- 
sack people lived. Finally it fell exhausted and Mazeppa, 
half dead and unconscious, lay beneath it. 

Here some country people found him. They unbound 
him. They cared for him and treated him kindly. Soon 
he got well and strong again and lived with the Cossacks, 
the people who had saved his life. 


102 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 

Mazeppa was brave, strong and active. All this pleased 
the Cossacks very much. They made him their chief and 
he became rich and powerful. 

Peter the Great, emperor of Russia, was his friend and 
protector but Mazeppa was not satisfied with his home in 
Russia. He plotted against the government and helped 
the king of Sweden against Russia. At last he was found 
out. His home was destroyed and he had to flee for his 
life. But he could not be happy and finally poisoned him- 
self. 


GUSKY. 

There is a young elephant in Schenley Park, in Pitts- 
burg. She is called Gusky, being named after Mrs. J. 
M. Gusky who presented her to the park authorities. 
She is an intelligent animal and has a very good memory 
as this story will show. 

Many children visit the Zoological Garden in the park 
and, of course, they always go to see Gusky. The ele- 
phant likes to have the children visit her for they always 
bring something good to eat; such as peanuts, cake and 
fruit. She takes the eatables from their hands and never 
hurts them. 

One day several children were feeding Gusky. One 
small boy got a stick with a nail in the end of it. He 


rMW 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 103 



104 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


stuck buns on the nail and handed them to the elephant. 
The hoy was tricky. When Gusky was about to take a 
bun he suddenly twisted the stick and gave it a jerk and 
ran the nail into the animal’s trunk. After that he ran 
away and did not come back again for several months. 
When he came back again he went to the elephant stable 
to see Gusky. Perhaps he thought he would play another 
trick on her, but he did not. 

As soon as he came into the stable the elephant recog- 
nized him. She ran up and caught him with her trunk. 
She crowded him against the wall of the stable and tried 
to trample on him. She trumpeted loudly and the boy 
screamed as hard as he could. The elephant’s keeper 
heard them and rushed into the stable. He commanded 
Gusky to let the boy go but she refused to obey. The keep- 
er seized a pitchfork and jabbed the elephant’s neck and 
shoulder with it. Then she dropped the boy and he was 
dragged out of her reach. Gusky remembered what the 
boy had done to her six months before and wanted to pun- 
ish him. I do not think the boy will want to visit Gusky 
again. It is not safe to fool with elephants because they 
will remember it and have revenge whenever they get a 
chance. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


105 


A SYMPATHETIC DOG. 

A boy was walking through a field when he was set up- 
on by a large, fierce dog. He was very much frightened 
and ran with all his might toward a tree. He hoped to 
reach the tree and climb up before the dog caught him. 
As he ran he looked back to see if the dog was near. Sud- 
denly he tripped on some vines and fell headlong upon the 
rough ground. His leg was broken so he could not rise. 
He was helpless. He expected the fierce dog would seize 
him and tear his flesh with his cruel teeth. When the 
dog came up he saw that the boy was in trouble. He did 
not bite him. He seemed to understand that the boy was 
badly hurt and could not walk. He was no longer fierce 
but tried to help the poor boy. Soon the dog ran away to 
a farm-house and tried to attract the notice of some one. 
At first he did not succeed so he ran back to the boy for 
a sympathetic visit. He licked his hands in a friendly 
manner. Then he went back to the house. This time he 
succeeded in getting a woman to follow him. He led her 
to the boy. The woman sent for help and the boy was car- 
ried to the house and a doctor called. His leg was bound 
in splints. After that he was sent to his home. The dog 
was the boy’s enemy but became his friend as soon as he 
saw that he was in distress. 

Pain and suffering cause sympathy, even among our 


enemies. 


106 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


THE CHRISTMAS GIFT. 

Some years ago during the Christmas holidays, a man 
who lived in California went out with a party of friends 
to hunt. They went to the mountains on horseback. 
There was snow on the mountains and the paths were 
slippery in some places. One day the party passed along 
the side of a high, steep hill on a narrow path. This man 
was the last in the line and some distance behind the oth- 
ers. Suddenly his horse slipped, and with his rider, slid 
down the hillside. Down, down they went crashing 
through bushes and knocking against boulders. At last 
they came to a stop on a narrow ledge of rocks. 

The man’s friends did not see him fall. They did not 
miss him for some time. When they found that he was 
not in sight, they started back to look for him. They fear- 
ed something had happened to him. They could see noth- 
ing of the man or his horse, but they soon came to the 
place where they had slidden down the hill. The snow 
and rocks were disturbed so they knew their friend had 
met with an accident. They climbed down the hill 
to look for him. Soon they discovered the horse and man 
behind a clump of bushes. The horse was not hurt much 
and the man was seen on the ledge of rocks dancing and 
throwing his arms about. They thought he was crazy. 
When the man saw his friends he stopped dancing and 
called them to come to him. When they came up he 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 107 

showed them several chunks of gold which he had broken 
off the edge of the rocks. 

When the horse slid down onto the ledge of rocks he 
struggled to get up and kicked the snow and moss off and 
disclosed the glittering gold. This discovery made the 
man wild with joy. That was why he danced. The party 
made further examinations and found that they had, in- 
deed, discovered a very rich gold mine. They called it the 
“Christmas Gift.” It was worth millions of dollars. 


■o 


TWO KITTENS. 

Two cunning kittens, Jim Crow and Raven, shared the 
cosy home of a maiden lady. They had the sweetest milk 
to lap and the softest bed to sleep in behind the stove where 
it was warm. They were allowed the freedom of the house 
and could play among the downy cushions in the parlor. 
They were comfortable and happy when they did not quar- 
rel, but I am sorry to say they often quarreled. They 
were greedy little things and each wanted the lion’s share 
of everything. 

It happened one cold, stormy day that Jim Crow had 
caught a nice fat mouse and Raven wanted a taste of it. 
Jim Crow would not give him any so they quarreled and 
spat at each other. Soon they unsheathed their sharp 
claws and began to scratch and fight. Their mistress saw 


108 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


the naughty kittens quarreling and with the broom swept 
them both out into the storm. The wind blew and the 
the snow heat into their fur. Now they were glad to stop 
quarreling and huddle together in a corner of the porch. 
Soon they became very cold and mewed piteously. They 
thought of their cozy bed behind the stove. Perhaps they 
were sorry for having been so naughty. They mewed very 
loudly and scratched at the door. Their mistress heard 
them. She took pity on them and let them in. She 
thought they had been sufficiently punished for quarreling. 
Being cold and wet they crawled into their bed and lay 
close together like good friends. Soon they were fast 
asleep. They had forgotten all about the mouse which 
had caused all the trouble. 

Boys and girls often quarrel and fight about little things 
and have to be punished to make them good again just 
like these kittens. It is best not to be covetous or angry. * 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


109 


THE CHRISTIAN KNIGHT. 

Once there was a Christian Knight who loved Jesus 
and wished to do good. At that time the Turks in Asia 
persecuted the Christians in their country. They did not 
want them to love Jesus. The good Christian Knight 
and many other brave men thought the Turks were cruel 
and wicked. They went to fight against them to make 
them stop persecuting the Christians. But they were de- 
feated in battle and the good Knight was taken prisoner 
and treated cruelly. A Turkish pasha yoked him with 
his oxen and hitched him to his plow. He drove him with 
blows of the whip until the blood ran and until he was 
almost dead. It was terrible work for the good Knight 
but he did not lose hope. 

At home the Knight’s loving wife sold her jewels and 
pledged her castle and lands to raise money to pay for his 
ransom. Her friends helped her and at last she had 
enough to pay the cruel Turkish pasha for her husband’s 
freedom. The brave Knight came home and years pass- 
ed. He grew old. 

Again the Christians went to figlit the Turks and again 
the good Knight mounted his war-horse and led them in 
battle. This time ihe Christians were victorious. The 
Turkish pasha, who had so cruelly treated the good Knight, 
was taken prisoner and conveyed to the Knight’s Castle. He 
trembled for he knew he had been very cruel to the good 
Knight. He expected to be punished. 


110 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


The good Knight met the cruel Turk and asked him 
what he expected would be done to him. “I know I shall 
be severely punished for my cruel treatment of thee,” said 
the Turk. “No,” said the Knight, “I shall set thee free. 
The gospel of Christ commands us to forgive our en- 
emies and to love all mankind. It teaches us that God is 
love. Go in peace. Go to thy home and thy dear ones 
but in future be merciful to the unfortunate.” 

Then the prisoner broke into tears and exclaimed, 
“How could I believe such mercy was for me? Misery and 
torment seemed to await me. Therefore I took poison 
and soon I must die. Nothing can help me. I can live 
but a short time.” 

Then the Turk begged the good Knight to teach him 
about Jesus for he thought his love and mercy were won- 
derful. He wanted to die a Christian. Then the Knight 
explained to him how Jesus died for us and taught us all 
to forgive and help each other. The Turk listened and 
was happy for he thought that God would forgive him. 
Soon the poison did its work and he died thinking of the 
wonderful love of Jesus. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


Ill 


A SMART SHOEMAKER. 

The shoemaker was a Frenchman and lived in Willow 
Grove, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. His shop was small 
but the town was also small and customers few. He kept 
a stock of shoes such as farmers and villagers usually 
buy. His shoes were neither very fine nor yet very coarse. 
He had some colored people among his customers. One 
day a negro came in and wished to see some shoes. The 
Frenchman showed him several pairs of excellent shoes. 
The negro looked at them very carefully, but he did not 
buy any. However he selected a pair and placed them in 
a corner of the window. He said he would come back 
and get them. When he had gone, the shoemaker became 
suspicious. He thought the negro meant to come back 
at night and steal the shoes. The Frenchman thought he 
would be smart and outwit him. So he took one of the 
shoes from the window and placed another in its place. 
Both shoes were for the right foot. They were not mates, 
you know. 

The shoemaker’s suspicions were correct. That night 
the window was broken and the shoes were stolen. Of 
course the thief could not wear the shoes as they were 
both for the same foot. The shoemaker thought he had 
played a good joke on the negro. But the Frenchman had 
two odd shoes on his hands which he could not sell. So 
he really lost two pairs instead of one. He might have 


112 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


saved the shoes by removing them from the window. He 
did not think of that. Smart, was he not? 


THE BIRD AND SNAKE. 

A gentleman had a beautiful song-bird. It could sing 
very sweetly and the gentleman loved to hear it. He kept 
it in a pretty cage and fed it with seeds. One day he 
hung the cage near an open window and went away. 
There was a large grape vine growing at the side of the 
house. Tt reached to the window. A large snake was craw- 
ling about the yard looking for something to eat. It heard 
the bird singing. It climbed up the grape vine to the 
window. It crept into the cage. It caught the bird and 
swallowed it. After it had swallowed the bird it could not 
get out of the cage. The gentleman came home. He 
went to the cage and saw the snake there. He knew it 
had eaten his dear little bird. He was very sorry. He 
killed the snake. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


113 


WILHELM AND THE DEER. 

In a German city, near the Rhine, lived a well-to-do 
artisan and his wife. They had several children, the 
youngest of whom was about three years old. His name 
was Wilhelm. He was a beautiful boy and the favorite 
of every one. 

There was a holiday and Wilhelm’s parents and a great 
many people went to a large park near the city to have 
a good time in the woods. This park was really a large 
forest. Here the people walked about. Some talked, 
some danced and some played. Little Wilhelm enjoyed 
it all very much. He loved the flowers and by and by he 
wandered away to the brook where many bright blossoms 
grew. He picked many flowers and kept going further 
and further away. His parents missed him not for they 
thought he was safe with his brothers and sisters. His sisters 
did not miss him because they supposed he was with his 
brothers, and his brothers thought he was with his sisters or 
parents. So nobody missed him. 

He wandered about in the woods alone. He laughed to 
see the butterflies, bright flowers and the little squirrels 
scamper about. The afternoon was nearly spent. It 
was then discovered that Wilhelm was missing. His par- 
ents searched for him but they could not find him among 
all the people. The mother wrung her hands and wept 
for her lost boy. Evening came and all the people return- 


114 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


ed to their homes — all hut Wilhelm’s relatives and friends. 
They staid to search for him in the dark forest. All night 
long, with torch and horn, they sought the lost boy. 
Morning came and still he was not found. The mother’s 
heart was filled with grief and the father offered a large 
reward to any one who could find his dear boy. The prince 
of that country heard about the poor boy, lost in the for- 
est. He sent one hundred soldiers to help find him. The 
soldiers tramped through the woods in every direction. 
They shouted and blew their bugles, but no answering 
childish cry was heard. All that day and the second 
night the search continued, and still Wilhelm could not 
be found. There was sadness in every heart. 

On the second day many of the searchers gave up and 
returned to their homes. One poor man, who wished to 
gain the reward, determined to find the little wanderer. 
He ran here and there, up and down, through thickets 
and along the streams. At last, near noon-time, he came 
to an open glade. Here he found the little truant fast 
asleep under a spreading tree. As he slept he held in his 
little hand a bunch of flowers, and by his side there stood 
a female deer. She would let no one touch the sleeping 
child. The deer had taken care of the lost boy and saved 
him from harm. And now when the man approached, 
she dipped her head, ready to fight and defend the child. 
Then the peasant blew his horn and others came to help him. 
They held the deer while he took up the boy and carried 
him, safe and sound, to his sorrowing parents. Then 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


115 


there was great rejoicing and the peasant received his re- 
ward. The prince sent for the deer which had protected 
little Wilhelm in the forest. He made a pet of her and 
kept her safe from the hounds and the hunter. 


-o 


PYRAMIDS. 

Egypt is the land of the pyramids. Pyramids have 
been built in other parts of the world but the largest and 
the greatest number of them are found in Egypt. The 
pyramids are the oldest monuments in the world. Some 
of them are said to be over 1 4,000 years old. They were 
built by kings to be their sepulchres. There wonderful 
piles of stone may be seen on both sides of the Nile, the 
great river that flows through Egypt. Tne Great Pyra- 
mid is the largest one. It is near Cairo, and is supposed 
to have been built by Cheops, a King of Egypt. It is the 
largest work of man’s hands in the world. It was at first 
481 feet high and each side of the base was 765 feet long. 
It covered thirteen acres. It was built almost solid. Only 
a small sepulchral chamber was built in the heart of the 
huge pile. This chamber was partly under the surface of 
the ground. It was long and narrow. The entrance was 
through a long narrow passage which sloped upwards. It 
came out, high up on the north side. The opening on the 


116 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 



distant view of the pyramids. 








STORIES, OLD AND NEW 


117 



VIEW Ol GALL-TRY IN THE GREAT PYRAMID. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


il8 

outside was carefully concealed. These openings in some 
of the pyramids have been discovered and mummies of 
kings have been found in the chambers. 

It is supposed that the mummy of the King’s daughter 
who saved and reared Moses was found in one of these 
pyramids. The picture shows the inside chamber of a pyr- 
amid. These monuments were built of wonderfully large 
blocks of granite. It is not known how they were placed 
one upon another. The blocks at the top are almost as 
large as those at the bottom and we can only guess how 
they were raised so high. These granite blocks were cut 
far up the Nile and floated down to the building place. It 
is thought the blocks were cut with large copper saws, the 
teeth of which were armed with diamonds. 

The pyramids are the only one remaining of the “seven 
wonders of the world.” They may yet be destroyed for, 
now, they are used as stone quarries, and some of them 
have been much reduced in size. The stone is blasted and 
hauled away for building purposes. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


119 


THREE LITTLE ONES AND THE GIANTS. 


Three Little Ones lived in a little house tucked away 
behind the walls of a giant’s castle. The entrance to 
their house was through a long narrow passage. The 
giants could not reach them for they could not go through 
the narrow entrance. Here the little ones lived in com- 
fort. They lined their house with fur and made their 
beds of feathers and bits of paper. When they were 
hungry, they came out of their house through the narrow 
passage. They ran about the halls of the castle and took 
the food which the giants neglected. Sometimes the little 
giants dropped their cake or other food or threw it away. 
This the Little Ones were very glad to get and carried it 
to their home behind the wall. They grew fat and sleek. 
They were happy. Often they played and scampered 
about the Giant’s halls. They became very bold and saucy. 
It happened some of the little giants saw them, while at 
play. They chased them, then the Little Ones ran for 
their lives. The feet of the giants were fearfully large. 
One huge foot would cover a dozen Little Ones. No won- 
der they rushed helter-skelter through the narrow passage 
leading to their home, where they were safe. The giants 
saw the little passage, but they could not reach the Little 
Ones. 

The Little Ones were so frightened that they stayed at 
home a long time. They became very hungry. Then they 


120 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


came out to look for food. They saw a pretty little house 
with food in it. Being very hungry they did not stop to 
think but ran in and began to nibble the delicious food 
greedily. All at once there was a click and a snap and 
the door of the little house banged shut. The Little Ones 
pushed against it but it was fast. They ran all about the 
little house but they could not get out. Their hearts beat 
fast. They did not know what to do. They walked all 
about and examined the little house carefully and found 
that it was really a prison. Iron bars were all over the 
windows and doors and they could not break them open. 
They could only wait to see what would happen. 

By and by the Little Ones heard a terrible noise. Sev- 
eral young giants came running up to the little prison. 
The sound of their feet on the hard ground was like thun- 
der. The Little Ones almost fainted from fright. One of 
the giants stooped and picked up the prison. He held it 
upon one hand and looked through the bars at the little 
prisoners. His great eyes and enormous teeth, when he 
grinned, were frightful. The other giants Crowded around 
and made a terrible din with their feet and voices. The 
little prison with its helpless inmates yras carried about 
and exhibited to all the other giants, big and little. All 
this time the Little Ones were quaking with fear in a cor- 
ner of their prison. 

At last the little prisoners were carried out of the castle 
to a wide open space surrounded by high walls. Many of 
the giant’s crowded in this place. Then the door of the 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


121 


prison was opened just wide enough for one to go out at 
a time. Then one of the terrified prisoners sprang out 
among the feet of the terrible giants, hoping to escape, and 
ran hither and thither, pursued by the frightful monsters. 
There was no opening in the wall through which to escape 
and at last the monstrous foot of one of the giants was 
planted square upon his frail little body. Every bone in 
his body was broken and his life was crushed out. Again 
the prison door was opened and another Little One rushed 
out. His life was also crushed out as was the first one. 

The third Little One was doomed to witness the terrible 
death of his beloved brothers, and knew his turn would 
come. The giants had no pity. They were powerful. 
The Little Ones were weak and helpless. When the Lit- 
tle Ones ran with terror and screamed with pain, the 
heartless giants laughed and danced. The giants again 
crowded around the prison containing the last Little One. 
“Turn him out, turn him out,” they cried. Then the larg- 
est and most terrible ogre of all seized the Little One by 
the nape of the neck. He held him up as you would a 
feather. He smiled to see the grinning faces of his tribe 
upturned to his. Then with a toss he flung the Little 
One high up above their heads. He fell in the midst of 
the terrible creatures. He sprang this way; he sprang that 
way in hopes of escaping the awful feet of his pursuers. 
But alas! his poor little heart failed him and his strength 
was spent. He rushed blindly into a corner and there was 
no escape. A dozen stamping feet struck the helpless 


m 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


body and crushed it into a shapeless mass. Thus ended 
the lives of three innocent Little Ones who unwisely built 
their house behind the walls of the giants’ castle. 


DANGEROUS COASTING. 

Some boys were coasting down a steep hill on the road 
which crossed the railroad track. The road was very icy 
and smooth so that the sleds ran very fast. The boys en- 
joyed the sport very much. It happened as one boy was 
going down the hill, a train of cars came along on the 
railroad. The boy was lying on his stomach on his sled 
and going at a rapid rate. He saw the cars but he could 
not stop his sled. On he went and he felt sure he would 
run into the train and be ground to pieces under the 
wheels. When he was close to the cars he shut his eyes 
and waited for the shock. The train was running very 
fast but nothing happened. His sled ran on down the hill. 
He opened his eyes and found that he was safe while the 
train was almost out of sight. He wondered how it hap- 
pened. He found out that just as he expected to strike 
the cars, he had shot under them between the wheels. 
He was going so fast that the wheels did not catch him, 
so he was safe. It was a miraculous escape. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


123 


CRYING FOR MAMMA. 

Not long ago, a man who lived in St. Louis was out of 
work. His money was nearly all gone. He had a wife 
and two children. The oldest child was a boy, eighteen 
months old. The other was an infant in its mother’s 
arms. The man could find no work in St. Louis, so he 
came to Pittsburg to look for employment. He brought 
his little boy with him and left his wife and baby in the 
western city. He had not enough money to bring them. 

As soon as the little boy was taken from his mamma 
he began to cry and would not be comforted. He kept 
calling for his mamma. He would not eat anything and 
only slept when he became exhausted. He grew thin and 
weak. The father did everything he could for his dear 
little boy. He took him to the Day Nursery in Allegheny 
City. There were many other little children there but he 
toddled about from room to room and kept calling, “Mam- 
ma, mamma.” This was the only word he could pro- 
nounce. The man had no money to send for the mother. 
He was in despair, for his little boy would die of grief if 
he did not have his mamma soon. 

These facts were published in the newspapers and many 
people read about the little boy. They felt very sorry for 
him. One kind lady drove to the Day Nursery, gave $25 
to the matron and told her to send for the child’s mother 
at once. One gentleman went out as soon as he read the 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


124 

story and telegraphed for the mother. He promised to 
pay her fare to Pittsburg. One man who lived in Youngs- 
town, Ohio, sent $15, to bring the mother from St. Louis. 
Thus many people seemed to be much interested in the 
child. 

The mother received the kind gentleman’s telegram and 
started for Pittsburg at once. She travelled in a sleeping- 
car and reached Pittsburg the next morning. She met 
her husband and the little boy at the station where they 
had been waiting for her. The little one was asleep in 
his father’s arms when the train arrived. The mother 
rushed forward crying, “My baby, my baby.” She kissed 
the child again and again. Soon he awoke and when he 
saw his mamma, he cried for joy. He threw his little 
arms around her neck and hugged her tight. He would 
not leave her and kept his arms about her neck a long 
time. He was happy again and smiled the first time for 
more than a week. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


125 


FIGHT WITH WILD CATS. 

A man named Simmons was out hunting for bear in 
the Catskill mountains. He had his gun and dog with 
him. As he walked along a wild cat sprang upon him 
from a tree. It was very fierce and tore the flesh from his 
breast and arms. The dog came to the assistance of his 
master. The cat then attacked the dog and soon killed it. 
While they were fighting, however, Mr. Simmons caught 
up his gun, which he had dropped, and succeeded in 
shooting the savage beast. The man was badly wound- 
ed. It was a very large wild cat and if the dog had not 
come to his help, he might have been killed. 

Another time another man heard a noise in his hen- 
house. He went to see what it was. As he opened the 
door, a wild cat sprang upon him. The man had no weap- 
ons but he struck the cat with his fists and killed it. He 
succeeded in killing it without much injury to himself. 

Wild cats are dangerous animals when they are hungry 
or when they are attacked. 


126 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


CAIUS MUCIUS SC^VOLA. 

When the Etruscan King, Lars Porsena, failed to get 
across the bridge into Rome, he camped without the city. 
His army watched the Romans. They kept the people 
from coming in and going out. The Romans were much 
troubled by the siege but nothing could be done to drive 
the enemy away. At last a young man named Caius 
Mucius asked the consuls to let him go out and try to do 
something to relieve the city. He was given permission 
to go. Mucius then went beyond the walls of Rome 
and crept through the Etruscan camp. He reached the 
king’s tent. Just then Porsena was watching his troops 
pass by in order. A counsellor, dressed in fine robes sat 
beside him. As Mucius came in he mistook the counsel- 
lor for the King. He leaped forward and stabbed him to 
the heart. He thought he had killed the king. He was 
seized and dragged before Porsena. Porsena fiercely ask- 
ed who he was and why he had committed such a crime- 
The young man gave his name and said he was ready to 
dare anything for Rome. Porsena' threatened to torture 
him. Then Mucius stretched out his right hand and held 
it in the flame that burned in a brazier near by. He held 
it there until it was burned to a crisp without a sign of 
pain. Then he bade Porsena see what a Roman could bear. 

Porsena was struck by this show of fortitude. He spar- 
ed his life and even gave him his freedom and his dagger. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


127 


Mucius then told Porsena that three hundred young men 
like himself had sworn to kill him if he did not go away 
and leave Rome alone. This was not true but Porsena 
was very much frightened. He made peace with the Ro- 
mans and withdrew his army. 

Mucius could never use his right hand again so he was 
called Scaevola. That meant he was left-handed. 


o- 


THE TOAD, THE SNAKE, AND THE TRAMP, 

A toad lived in a pile of loose stones near a stone-bridge. 
It often hopped out among the weeds and on the road. 
It caught flies, bugs and worms to eat. One day it was 
sunning itself on a flat stone near the railroad. By 
chance a snake came along that way, looking for its din- 
ner. It spied the toad. It crept up and caught it. It 
swallowed it whole. The snake did not go away but coil- 
ed up and lay there in the sun. By and by a tramp came 
along, walking with a cane. He saw the snake and killed 
it with his stick. Then the tramp walked on the railroad 
and a locomotive ran over and killed him. The toad kill- 
ed the bug. The snake killed the toad. The tramp killed 
the snake. And the locomotive ' killed the tramp. So 
that was the end of them. 


128 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


FIGHT WITH AN OWL. 

A farmer, named Cross, lived in Oklahoma. One day 
he saw an owl on the roof of his barn. He got his gun 
and fired at the bird, knocking it off the roof. H$ went 
to pick it up but it was not dead. The shot had broken 
its wing and this made it furious. When the farmer ap- 
proached, the wounded bird flew into his face and began 
to fight furiously. Again and again it flew into his face. 
It tore and scratched the skin with its beak and sharp 
claws. Mr. Cross was compelled to flee to save himself. 
As he turned he stumbled and fell. The owl instantly 
pounced upon him. 

Then the farmer’s shepherd dog rushed to the rescue. 
The bird then flew at the dog and they fought fiercely. 
While they were fighting, the farmer jumped up, ran into 
the barn, got a spade and returned to the fight. He dealt 
the bird several hard blows on the head with the spade 
and stunned it. It fell on the ground and it took several 
more blows to kill it. 

The dog was badly injured about the head and neck and 
one eye was torn out. The owl measured four feet across 
the wings and its head was as large as a baby’s. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


129 


THE MONKEY AND THE SUGAR. 


Monkeys, like children, are fond of sweet things. They 
are particularly fond of sugar and bon-bons. Once a pet 
monkey was given a bottle with a hard lump of sugar in 
it. The bottle was tightly corked so he could not pull it 
out. The monkey could see the sugar through the glass 
and wished very much to get it. He shook the bottle 
and rolled it on the floor but the sugar would not come 
out. Then he tried the cork. He could not get that out 
either. The sugar seemed to be very near his reach but 
he could not get it. He began to act very funny and the 
people were much amused to see him try to get the 
sugar. Sometimes he would sit up with folded arms and 
look longingly at the sugar. Then he would clasp the 
bottle in his arms and hug it and bite at the sugar 
through the glass. At other times he would lie down 
and fondle the bottle with his hands. Then he would sit 
up and look very sad because he could not get the sweets. 
He tried many ways to get the sugar and was very amus- 
ing. He kept on trying. 

It happened his mistress had a jar of pickles on the 
table. By some means it was knocked off the table. It 
fell with a crash on the floor and was broken in pieces. 
The pickles rolled out on the floor. The monkey witness- 
ed this accident. Instantly he seized the bottle contain- 
ing the sugar and jumped up on his perch. He threw 


130 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


the bottle to the floor and it was broken. The sugar roll- 
ed out and the monkey seized it and began to munch it 
with much pleasure. He grimaced and winked at the 
people. He seemed to say, “Ah! I got it at last!” I think 
he deserved it after trying so hard. 


-o 


VALENTINE AND URSINE. 

Pekin was king of France. On St. Valentine’s Day 
the great king and many courtiers went to Artois Forest 
to hunt. They enjoyed the sport greatly and the hills 
and valleys rang with their cheerful cries and shouts. It 
happened as they passed through the thickets and woods 
they found a new-born child, down in a lonely dell. It 
was wrapped in fine silk and lace fastened with gold and 
silver pins. The courtiers gathered round to see the 
child, then they looked all around for the mother but she 
could not be found. 

At last the king himself came up. He gazed down at 
the pretty infant. It looked up, smiled and stretched out 
its little hands toward the king. The king was pleased. 
He said it must be a prince’s heir. He told them to take 
the babe to his palace and take good care of it. He also 
told them to get a good nurse for it, The babe was 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 131 

christened Valentine because it had been discovered on St. 
Valentine’s Day. 

Little Valentine grew strong and good. He was smart 
and learned fast. The king and all loved him very much. 
He learned feats of arms and soon he had no equal in 
France. When he was very young he was made a knight. 
He wished to go out and fight and win glory. He asked 
the king to reserve the first adventure for him and the 
king consented. 

Now it happened soon after this, three monks visited 
king Pekin and told him about a terrible man who lived 
in Artois Forest. He was very fierce and powerful. He 
had frightened the people very much and none dared to 
approach him. When Sir Valentine heard about the ter- 
rible wild man, he said he would go out and try to con- 
quer him. The king consented and wished him success. 
Then Valentine put on his milk-white armour and mount- 
ed his milk-white steed and set out for Artois Forest to 
conquer the wild man. He had not gone far before he 
discovered the terrible creature. The wild man had just 
caught a fawn and was rending it with his teeth, devour- 
ing the raw flesh. His uncombed hair hung down to 
his shoulders and his eyes glowed with fury. His nails 
had grown long and strong like an eagle’s talons. His 
limbs were thick and strong and in his hand he held a 
terrible, knotted club. 

As soon as Sir Valentine came near, the wild man 
sprang up and uttered a fearful howl which made the 


132 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW 

forest ring. Then he leaped with furious force to seize 
the knight, but he met Valentine’s long spear which forced 
him to his knees. He sprang up quickly and with his 
awful club struck savagely at the knight. The blow miss- 
ed his head but struck his lance and broke it in pieces. 
Then Valentine sprang from his horse and drew his 
sword. The savage leaped forward to get the blade. 
Three times he grasped the hilt but three times brave Sir 
Valentine resisted the attack and wounded the foe. The 
savage roared furiously and his eye balls flashed like fire. 
It was a terrible fight but at last Valentine threw his foe 
to the ground. They struggled long and passed many 
blows but at last Sir Valentine overcame the enemy and 
bound him fast. He then tied his captive to his horse’s 
tail and led him out of the forest. He took him to the 
king’s palace and presented him to the monarch. The king 
was much pleased and praised the brave knight. 

The terrible youth had lost much blood and strength so 
he grew tamer. Valentine treated him kindly, so, soon 
he was no longer dangerous. He grew fond of Sir Val- 
entine and became his faithful servant. He was good 
and true. They called him Ursine because he had lived 
with the bears in the forest, 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


133 


“hiram’s COW.” 

Hiram was a country boy. He was about thirteen 
years old. He was a sensible boy and liked to work. He 
had to drive his father's cows to and from the pasture 
every day. The pasture was a good piece from the house, 
near the woods. 

One day Hiram started after the cows. When he was 
about half way to the pasture he spw all the cows run- 
ning towards him. They were bellowing and seemed to be 
frightened. Hiram wondered what could be wrong. He 
quickly hid behind a tree to see what the cows would do. 
The cows ran past one after another. The old bell cow 
came last and just ahead of her there was a bear. The 
bear had come out of the woods and frightened the cows. 

After the cows had all passed Hiram ran after them. 
The cows and the bear all ran into the barnyard. Hiram 
closed the gate and fastened it. The cows, then, began to 
chase and hook at the bear. They all ran round and 
round the yard. It happened that the upper half of the 
barn door was open. So the bear jumped through into the 
barn and the cows could not follow it. Then Hiram ran 
and closed the barn door and bruin was imprisoned. 

After that Hiram ran into the house and told the folks 
that he had a bear in the barn. They all ran out to see 
it. They peeped through the cracks at it. Hiram’s little 
sister had never seen a bear before and did not know 


134 


STOBIES, OLD AND NEW. 


what it was. She said it was “Hiram’s new cow.” It 
was a young hear and Hiram kept it in the barn until it 
became tame. Then he let it out and it would follow 
him about like a dog. He called it Shaggy Coat but the 
folks usually called it “Hiram’s cow.” 


-o- 


THE GENTLEMAN AND THE BANANA PEEL. 

A gentleman was walking along the street with a 
friend. All at once the latter stepped on a banana peel 
on the pavement. He slipped and fell down. His leg was 
badly broken. After this accident the gentlemon could 
not bear the sight of a fruit peel on the sidewalk. He 
was afraid somebody would slip and be hurt like his 
friend. When he saw a peel on the pavement he always 
stopped and removed it. However busy he might be he 
never passed a fruit peel without sweeping it into the 
gutter. This had been his practice for many years. One day, 
not long since, he was walking along a crowded street. 
He saw a child in its mother’s arms, drop a banana peel 
on the pavement. The gentleman dodged about among 
the people, seized the peel and deposited it in the gutter. 
The people understood why he did it and were pleased 
with this act of thoughtfulness for the safety of others. 
They nodded approvingly. One lady wished to show her 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


135 


appreciation. She fumbled in her purse and took out a 
nickel. She pressed it into the gentleman’s hand and 
said, “You did a kind act, sir, and should be rewarded.” 
The gentleman was astonished and offended. He did 
not want to be paid for doing such things. He looked at 
the retreating lady and then at the coin. Then he pitch- 
ed it into the street. The “street arabs” scrambled for it. 
Then they followed the gentleman along the street. 
They thought he was crazy and would throw more 
money away. They were disappointed, however. The 
gentleman had no more money to throw to them. It is 
right, though, to remove fruit peels from the sidewalks. 
It may save semebody much pain and suffering. 


136 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


ANNIE AND WILLIe’s CHRISTMAS 

It was Christmas-eve. Annie, aged six and Willie, aged 
four, were at the window watching the people pass to and 
fro in the street. They were looking for their papa. They 
wondered if Santa Claus might not come along too. Their 
mamma was dead and their papa was a business man. 
He thought more of his money than anything else. 

As soon as papa got home Annie and Willie began to 
ask him some questions about Santa Claus. They wanted 
to know how far it was to his home and how he could 
make so many pretty things for the boys and girls. 
Annie wondered how such a fat jolly man with such a 
big pack on his back could get down such a little hole in 
chimney. Willie wanted to know how Santa Claus could 
get down the chimney without getting his white beard all 
dirty from the soot. 

Papa was thinking about business and the children’s 
questions vexed him. He was impatient and then he be- 
came cross. ‘There is no Santa Claus,” he said. Then 
he told them to go right off to bed. It was only seven 
o’clock. Annie sighed and stared in wonder. The big 
tears stood in Willie’s eyes. They minded papa and went 
silently to bed. They lay very still but they could not 
sleep. They kept thinking and thinking. They wonder- 
ed if Santa Claus would forget them. The clock struck 
eight, nine, ten; then Wille said, “Annie, dear, are you 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


137 


asleep?” “No” said Annie, “I have tried and tried but I 
cannot sleep. I feel so sorry because papa has said there 
is no Santa Claus. But we know there is a good Santa 
Claus for he came every year before dear mamma died. 
Mamma used to pray and maybe she asked God to send 
Santa Claus here every Christmas time.” 

“Well,” said Willie, “why can’t we pray too and ask 
Jesus to send Santa Claus again?” 

“I’ve been thinking so, too,” said Annie, and quickly they 
both sprang out of bed. They knelt on the soft carpet 
and clasped their tiny hands on their breasts. 

Annie prayed, “Dear Jesus look kindly down on Willie 
and me and send us some presents by dear Santa Claus. 
I want a wax dolly, a tea-set, a ring and a work-box. Bless 
papa, dear Jesus, and make him to see that Santa Claus 
does love Willie and me. Don’t let him be cross again. 
Amen.” Then Willie prayed, “Please, Jesus and Santa 
Claus come down to-night. I want a nice little sled, a 
box full of candy, a book and a toy. Amen, dear Jesus, 
I’ll be a good boy.” 

After they had prayed they felt happy and got back 
into bed. Soon they were fast asleep. I think they 
danced with the fairies in Dreamland. 

Papa sat in the library a long time before he thought of 
his dear children. At last he thought he had been very 
harsh to them. He was sorry. He went up stairs to see 
if they were asleep. He reached their door just in time 
to hear their prayers. He felt very sorry because he had 


138 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


been cross. He determined they should not be disappoint- 
ed. He went down stairs, put on his coat and went out 
to the stores. He bought everything for which his dear 
little girl and boy had prayed and many other things 
besides. He brought them home and put them in the 
children’s room. He fixed up a tree and made everything 
look pretty. When it was all done he felt happy. He 
knew his darlings would be glad to find the presents. 

The next morning when the little ones awoke they 
found the things which Santa Claus had brought. They 
were happy. They thought Jesus and Santa Claus were 
very good to bring them so many nice things. They 
shouted and laughed and called their papa to see their 
presents. Willie told him how they had prayed and Annie 
told him he could now see that there was, indeed, a Santa 
Claus. 

Papa was very glad his children were so happy. It was 
Jesus that softened his heart and led him up stairs to 
hear the children’s prayers. So, indeed, Jesus answered 
their prayers and He will answer all our prayers if we 
trust Him like Annie and Willie did. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


139 



THE CITY OF REFUGE. 

The Israelites lived in Canaan. They had laws which 
the Lord God had given them by Moses. If one man did 
wrong to another, he should he punished. If a man kill- 
ed another for revenge or because he hated him, he was 
a murderer. He was punished by death. The son or 


brother or other near kinsman of the murdered man was 
allowed to kill the murderer wherever he could find him. 

Sometimes a man killed another man by accident. 
This man was not a murderer. The friends of the dead 
man might not believe he did not intend to kill him. 
They might want to take his life. That would not be 
just. God told the Israelites to have some cities in Ca- 


140 STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 

naan where this man could flee and be safe from harm. 
These places were called cities of refuge. When a man 
killed another by accident, he must make haste to the 
city of refuge. When he came to the gate of the city he 
must tell the elders who lived there what he had done. 
Then the elders would take him into the city and give 
him a place where he might live. If the relatives of the 
man whom he had killed should come and ask for him the 
elders would not give him up. They would save him 
from his pursuers. After a certain time he could go back 
to his home again and be safe. 

But if a wicked murderer should come to the city of 
refuge the elders would not take him in. They would 
not try to save him from punishment. They would give 
him up to be put to death. 

People often do wrong. They become wicked. They 
deserve to be punished but God will pity them. Christ is 
our refuge. If we fly to him, he will ask God to forgive 
us and make us better. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


141 


THOMAS HOPKINS GALLAUDET. 



Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet was born in Philadelphia 
on the 10th of December, 1787. His ancestors were . Hu- 
guenots from France. When he was thirteen years old 
his parents moved to Hartford, Connecticut. Mr. Gal- 
laudet was never very strong in body. When he w’as 
a boy, he loved to study. He was very bright and 
industrious. He learned very fast. He entered Yale 
College in 1805. He was a deep thinker and talked like a 
person much older than he was. In his youth he wrote 
verses for his own pleasure. Some of his poems have been 
printed. 


142 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


After he left College Mr. Gallaudet studied law one 
year. His health was not good so he had to stop studying 
law. Soon after this he became a tutor in Yale College 
where he remained two years. He next tried traveling 
for a mercantile house. He was thus making his ex- 
perience varied. About this time he united with the 
Congregational church and began to study for the min- 
istry. He studied theology about three years at Andover 
College. Mr. Gallaudet was very earnest and sincere. 
He desired to serve his Mask r acceptably. 

He studied hard and wrote many letters for the news- 
papers. His name became well known in New England. 
After he left Andover he was offered several churches in 
which to preach, but he did not accept any of them be- 
cause his health was so poor. He did not seem to know 
just what to do. His opportunity had not yet come. He 
preached occasionally and traveled as much as he could 
for his health. Until 1817 there were no schools for the 
deaf and dumb in America. Only a few deaf persons 
had been taught to read and write. There were schools 
for the deaf in Germany, France, and England, but the 
people in America did not know anything about them. 
There were many deaf boys and girls in America. They 
were all very ignorant. They had no teachers to help 
them. 

Mr. Gallaudet had several small brothers and sisters. 
Among their playmates were the children of Dr. Mason 
F. Cogswell. Dr. Cogswell was an eminent surgeon. He 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


143 


was a very popular man. He had a child, named Alice, 
who was deaf. She was very bright, but she could not 
learn as fast as her sisters on account of her deafness. 
She often played with the Gallaudet children, for they 
were near neighbors. One day Mr. Gallaudet noticed 
Alice. He pitied her because she could not hear. He 
wished to teach her, so he tried to see what he could do. 
He first taught her the word “hat” then many other 
words and some sentences. When Mr. Gallaudet went 
back to college, Alice’s parents, brothers and sisters kept 
on teaching her. She learned a great deal but not very 
fast, because they did not know how to teach deaf people 
very well then. Dr. Cogswell was a kind-hearted man. 
He thought very much about his daughter, Alice. He 
made inquiries and found there were many other deaf 
children in Connecticut. He thought it was a pity they 
should grow up in ignorance. He talked with other peo- 
ple about it and they decided to start a school for the deaf 
and dumb. Some kind men gave money to help them. 
They had heard about the schools for the deaf in England 
and France. They determined to send some one to Eng- 
land to learn about the schools there. They chose Mr. 
Gallaudet to go there and learn how to teach the deaf 
and dumb. 

The English schools for the deaf were in the hands of 
a family, named Braid wood. Mr. Gallaudet went to the 
Braid woods and asked them to show him how to teach 
the deaf. The Braidwoods would not do it unless Mr. 


144 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


Gallaudet would give them much money. Mr. Gallaudet 
had no money to give them. He was very much disap- 
pointed. He spent several months trying to find out some- 
thing about the Braidwood methods of teaching. He 
feared he would be unsuccessful. About this time Mr. 
Gallaudet heard that the Abbe Sicard was in London 
with two of his brightest pupils. He went to see them. He 
was delighted to see that the deaf could learn so much. 

The Abbe Sicard invited him to visit his school in Paris 
and promised to help him all he could. Mr. Gallaudet 
was very glad and went to Paris. The Abbe Sicard was 
very kind and showed him how to teach the deaf and 
dumb. He remained there nearly a year, learning the 
signs and studying the methods of teaching. At last he 
was ready to return to America. 

Laurent Clerc was one of the Abbe Sicard’s assistants. 
He had also been his pupil for he was deaf. He had been 
a very bright boy and learned very fast. When he grew 
up Sicard appointed him to help him teach the deaf and 
dumb in his school in Paris. He was a good teacher and 
he assisted Mr. Gallaudet while he was in Paris. Mr. Gal- 
laudet wished to take some one with him to America to 
help him start the new school. So he asked Mr. Clerc 
to go with him and he consented. They landed in New 
York on August 9th, 1816. 

While Mr. Gallaudet was in Europe, Dr. Cogswell and 
other friends had collected money and secured a charter 
for the “Connecticut Asylum.” Several months were 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


145 


spent, getting ready to open the new school. Finally on 
the 15th of April, 1817, the “Asylum 11 was opened for 
pupils. At first there were only seven pupils. The first 
of these were Alice Cogswell, George H. Loring and 
Wilson Whiton. Dr. Gallaudet’s labors for the deaf were 
now fully begun and he labored incessantly for their 
good. Year by year new pupils were added and new 
teachers employed. The school grew rapidly and a new 
building was erected. The name of the institution was 
changed to the “American Asylum. 11 

Dr. Gallaudet was principal of the “American Asylum 11 
thirteen years. He worked very hard and taught a class 
himself all the time. He was not fairly treated by the 
board of directors but he did not complain. Besides 
working harder, he received a less salary than some of 
the teachers. Mr. Clerc received a higher salary than he. 

Dr. Gallaudet was a small man. He was not strong 
but he had good control of his pupils. Some of them 
were large, rough boys and some were bad. One day in 
the dining-room Dr. Gallaudet stood up to say grace when 
a large boy seized a knife and rushed at him. He could 
not escape. He could not resist the large, strong boy. Dr. 
Gallaudet opened his bosom and told him to strike. The 
boy was instantly ashamed of himself and slunk away. 
Dr. Gallaudet loved the deaf and dumb and did all he could 
to help them. At last, after thirteen years 1 labor for the 
deaf, he retired from the “American Asylum 11 on account 
of poor health. He continued to reside in Hartford and 


146 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


visited the Institution often. In 1821 Dr. Gallaudet was 
married to Sophia Fowler who was deaf and who had been 
one of his first pupils. They had several children among 
whom are Dr. Ed ward Gallaudet, president of the National 
Deaf-Mute College, and Dr. Thomas Gallaudet, rector of 
St. Ann’s Church for Deaf-Mutes in New York Citj\ Mrs. 
Gallaudet lived many years after the death of her husband 
and she was loved and honored by all who knew her. 

After leaving the “Asylum” Dr. Gallaudet spent several 
years writing books for the young. He also wrote for 
the magazines. In 1838 he became chaplain iu the insti- 
tution for the Insane at Hartford. He continued in this 
office until his death in 1851. In September of this year 
he was confined to his home and to his bed most of the 
time. At last on the 10th, as he lay in his bed he thought 
he felt better. His daughter was with him. He said to 
her, “I will go to sleep?” He slept in Jesus for he never 
waked again in this world. 

Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet was the father of deaf- 
mute education in America The deaf and dumb in the 
United States love to do honor to his memory. In 1854 
they collected money and erected a monument to his 
memory in front of the Institution in Hartford. A bronze 
statue of Gallaudet, costing $10,000, was erected by the 
deaf on the grounds of the National Deaf-Mute College in 
Washington in 1889. It is right for the deaf to love him 
for he was a great and good man, 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


147 


SPOILING A POINTER. 

Mr. Brown had a fine “bird dog.” He was a splendid 
pointer and Mr. Brown was very proud of him. He al- 
ways took him when he went out bird shooting. The dog 
never failed to “point” the birds and his master usually 
bagged a fine lot of them. 

One day a parrot was brought to the house. It was a 
fine bird and a good talker. When the dog came into the 
house the first time after the parrot arrived, he stopped 
and “pointed” as soon as he saw it. The parrot was not 
afraid of the dog and walked right up to him and looked 
him straight in the eyes. After a moment the bird 
screamed, “You’re a rascal.” The dog was very much 
astonished to hear a bird talk. He dropped his tail be- 
tween his legs and slunk away. After that he would 
never “point” a bird again so he was spoiled and his mas- 
ter was sorry to lose such a good hunter. 


148 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


ZEKE AND THE BEAR. 

Zeke was a noted bear hunter. He lived near the 
mountains in Pennsylvania. Sometimes the bears were 
plentiful in the mountains and in the winter Zeke often 
caught them in traps or shot them with his trustv rifle. 
In the summer and fall he did not hunt bears. 

One day, early in the fall, Zeke went to the woods on 
the mountains to gather nuts. He did not take his gun 
or other weapons, as he did not expcet to meet with bears 
or other fierce animals. While he wandered about in the 
woods he saw a large stump. It seemed to be hollow so 
he walked up to examine it. It was really hollow so Zeke 
looked down to see what was in it. He found a bear’s 
nest with two small cubs in it. While he stood there 
looking at the baby bears the mother came up. Zeke did 
not hear or see her. The first thing he knew was a. blow 
on the ear which sent him sprawling on the ground. The 
bear had boxed his ears. Perhaps she thought he had no 
business to be looking at her babies. 

Zeke sprang up; then he saw the cross bear which was 
coming at him again. He had no gun or other weapon,, 
so he had to run to save his life. The bear chased him. 
The man sprang over logs and ran through the bushes. 
Soon he looked back and saw the bear going back to her 
young. He was glad to escape. He thought he would be 
more cautious the next time he found a bear’s nest. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


149 


JOHNNY AND HIS SLED. 

It was after Christmas. The snow covered the ground 
and the road was nice and smooth. Johnny Roe had a 
nice new sled which he got from Santa Claus on Christ- 
mas. He was very anxious to go out and try his sled. 
There was nobody to go with him so he went alone. 

He drew the sled to the top of the hill and then rode 
down. The sled ran fast and Johnny enjoyed the sport 
very much. He went up and down the hill several times. 
At la,st he became tired. Just then Johnny’s brother, 
Joe, came along on Dolly, their old mare. Johnny told 
Joe to stop a minute. “What for,” asked Joe. “I want 
to have a ride,” answered Johnny. “There is not room 
on Dolly for two,” said Joe. “Oh! I don’t want to get on,” 
replied Johnny. He then proceeded to tie the rope of the 
sled to Dolly’s tail. After it was securely tied he sat 
down on the sled and told Joe to go ahead. “Dolly will 
kick you,” said Joe. “No danger,” said Johnny, “she is 
too old and lazy to kick.” Then Joe started up but when 
the mare felt the pull on her tail she stopped and looked 
back at the sled. Again Joe started and whipped her up. 
She began to trot, then all at once, she gave a kick and 
galloped away. Johnny and the new sled were knocked 
into a snow bank. • Fortunately the mare’s heels had 
struck the sled and Johnny was not hurt but he was 
very much frightened. He learned that it is not always 
safe to impose on quiet animals. 


150 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


VIRGINIA. 

Appius Claudius was one of the ten governors of Rome. 
He lived many, many years ago. He was proud and 
cruel. He was a selfish, wicked man. Appius had his 
judgment-seat in the forum. There he judged the people 
but he was often unjust. The forum was also the market- 
place as well as the school-house. Boys and girls went 
there to learn to read and write. The girls who went 
there were attended by their nurse. 

Yirginius was a brave soldier and a captain in the 
army. He was a plebian, that is, he belonged to the com- 
mon people. He had one daughter, Virginia. Virginia 
was very beautiful and good. She went to school in the 
forum. 

One day Appius saw Virginia in the forum. He admir- 
ed her very much. He would make her his wife but the 
Roman law forbade. He determined, if she could not be 
his wife, she should be his slavb. Appius told his friend, 
Marcus Claudius, to claim Virginia as his slave. Marcus 
did so. Virginia’s nurse told him that Virginia was no 
slave. She sent for Virginia’s uncle, Numitorius, and her, 
betrothed, Icilus. They went to Appius and proved that 
Virginia was really the daughter of Virginia s and not 
Marcus’ slave. But Appius would not release her. Then 
they asked him to put off the trial until the next day. 
Appius agreed to do so. Then Icilus immediately sent 


STORIES, [OLD J AND NEW. 151 

for Virginius who was with the army. He came to Rome 
at once. 

The next morning Virginius took Virginia before Ap- 
pius Claudius. A great crowd of people pressed about 
them. They sympathized with Virginius. Virginius 
proved that he was Virginia’s father, but Appius pretend- 
ed not to believe it and told Marcus to take her for his 
slave. The people were very angry at the unjust decision. 
Virginius was astonished. He could not save his child. 
He threw his arms about her and kissed her. He led her 
to a butcher’s stall. He could not bear the thought of his 
daughter being a slave. He seized a long sharp knife and 
stabbed her to the heart. He could save her from shame 
in no other way. He waved the bloody knife and cried, 
u 0n thy head be this innocent blood, Appius.” 

Appius ordered his soldiers to seize Virginius but they 
could not. The crowd kept them back and Virginius 
walked away. He mounted his horse and rode back to 
the camp. He told the soldiers about what had been 
done and showed them the bloody knife. The soldiers 
were very angry against the governors. They all march- 
ed to Rome. 

At the same time there was a great tumult in the city. 
The people were very angry against Appius Claudius. 
They threw stones at him and wounded him and the 
blood ran over his face. His friends could not protect 
him and he had to hide himself in his own house. 
Virginia’s corpse was carried on a bier through the 


152 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


streets. The people laid garlands of flowers, scarfs and 
wreaths upon it. The men drew their swords and vowed 
to resist the wicked governors. When the troops arrived 
in Rome, the people joined them. They took Appius 
Claudius and put him in prison. They intended to bring 
him to trial and punish him, but Appius killed himself. 
He was afraid to meet the angry people. 


-o- 


ARACHNE. 

Long ago people believed there were many gods and 
goddesses. Minerva was the goddess of all liberal arts. 
This included spinning, weaving sewing and embroidery. 
None could spin, weave, sew or embroider as well and 
skillfully as Minerva. 

There was a young woman named Arachne, the 
daughter of a dyer. She learned to sew and embroider 
when she was very young and became skillful. Her 
friends flattered her and said that Minerva, the goddess, 
must have been her teacher. Arachne denied this and 
said she learned herself without a teacher. She was very 
vain of her needle- work. She boasted that she could sew 
and embroider as well as the goddess. She even chal- 
lenged Minerva to a trial of skill. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


153 


Now, in those days it was considered veryj wicked for 
anyone to compete with the gods and goddesses and they 
were usually severely punished for so doing. Arachne 
knew all this but she was willing to suffer if she failed to 
do better work than Minerva. 

Minerva heard of Arachne’s boastings and was much 
displeased. She assumed the form of an old woman and 
went to see the foolish maiden. She warned her not to 
compete with the goddess. Arachne was angry and told 
the old woman to mind her own business. She said she 
was not afraid of the goddess. Then Minerva threw off 
her disguise and the company knew it was the goddess 
herself. All bowed down before her. Arachne, alone, 
stood defiant. She still resolved to compete with the god- 
dess. The contest began at once. Each putfup her piece 
of embroidery and began to work on the designs. Both 
worked very fast. The skillful fingers moved rapidly 
over the surface of the web. With her needle Minerva 
wrought some beautiful scenes of the gods and goddesses. 
All her work was pure and noble. She also embroidered 
scenes where mortals contested with the gods and were 
punished. She hoped Arachne would give up before it 
was too late. 

Arachne wrought in her web pictures to show the weak- 
ness and foolishness of the gods and goddesses. When 
Minerva saw these pictures of the presumptious maid, she 
was very angry. She struck the embroidery with a shut- 
tle and tore it from the frame. She then touched Arachne 


154 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


on the forehead and caused her to feel her folly and guilt. 
Arachne could not endure this, so she went and hanged 
herself. Minerva pitied her. She told her, she should live 
but she and all her descendants should continue to hang 
by a thread forever. Then she sprinkled the juice of a 
plant over her, and immediately Arachne’s form began to 
change. Her body shrunk up. Her head grew small. 
Her fingers grew to her sides and served as legs. She 
continued to spin but the threads were made out of her 
own body. With these she suspended herself and made 
webs in the air. Alas, poor Arachne! she had been chang- 
ed into a spider. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


155 


MARCUS CURTIUS. 

Long, long ago, a great chasm or crack in the ground 
occurred in the forum at Rome. It could not be filled up 
because it was so deep. Many, many cart loads of earth 
and stones had been thrown into it and still the bottom 
could not be seen. The augurs were persons who foretold 
events. So the people went to the augurs and asked them 
how they could close up the yawning chasm. The augurs 
said the place would never close until they had thrown 
into it the most precious thing. Then the people threw 
gold, silver and jewels into it, but still it did not close up. 
After that the augurs said it was courage that was the 
most precious thing. 

Marcus Curtius, a young patrician, heard what the au- 
gurs said. He went home and dressed himself in his 
finest robes and put on his armour. He then took his 
sword, his lance and his shield and mounted his war 
horse. He rode through the streets of Rome until he 
came to the forum. Here, he rode his horse into the 
chasm. Horse and rider sank out of sight; down, down 
in the abyss. After this sacrifice, it is said the chasm 
closed up itself, so that the forum was smooth and even 
again. Marcus Curtius was honored by the Romans for 
his brave deed. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


iSe 


IMPRISONED MAMMA. 

Tommy was two years old. He was a mischievous 
baby and toddled about in search of something to do all 
the time. He had to be watched or he would tumble 
down stairs or fall out of a window. One day he was with 
his mamma in the bed-room. He was having a good time 
playing about the room while his mamma was putting 
things in order. By and by mamma went to the closet to 
arrange something. Tommy saw her there and in a fit of 
mischief, slammed the door shut. The door fastened with 
a spring lock on the outside. Mamma could not open the 
door from the inside. Tommy could not open it because 
he was too small. Mamma was imprisoned in the dark, 
close closet. She could scarcely breathe and fainted 
several times. When she became conscious she beat the 
door and called for help but no one, save baby, heard 
her. Tommy was much frightened and cried and cried. 

It was several hours before any one heard. At last Tom- 
my’s uncle heard the noise and went up to see what it was 
all about. Tommy pointed at the closet-door and soon 
mamma was liberated from her close prison cell. She 
was unconscious but soon recovered after being in the fresh 
air awhile. Tommy was very glad. His mamma did not 
scold him because he had not meant to be naught}^. He 
was too small to know what he was doing. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


157 


THREW HIS WATCH. 


James G. Blaine, the famous statesman, and Joseph 
Brown, a wealthy iron manufacturer of Pittsburg, were 
college mates at Washington, Pa. One day Brown was 
playing ten-pins. While he was playing one of his shoes 
became untied. He stooped to fasten the string. While 
he was in this bent position, young Blaine came up. He 
gave Brown a lively kick. Brown straightened up, in- 
stantly. When he saw Blaine, who was laughing, he un- 
fastened his silver watch from the chain and threw the 
timepiece with all his might at him. Blaine dodged the 
missile and escaped unhurt, but the watch was ruined. 

When they left college, the young men separated and 
did not meet again until they were old men with gray 
hair and beards. Several years ago Mr. Blaine was 
travelling in Maine and saw Mr. Brown on the train . He 
recognized him at once, but Mr. Brown did not know Mr. 
Blaine. By and by Mr. Blaine asked him if he did not re- 
member throwing his watch at another fellow at college. 
Then Mr. Brown knew it was Mr. Blaine. The two old 
men shook hands and sat down together. Thay talked 
about their school days and many other things. They 
had a pleasant time on the train and when they parted 
they were good friends again. 


158 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


SAVED BY A CAT. 


The home of Mr. Wright was in Youngstown, Ohio. He 
lived in a neat frame cottage. He had a wife and several 
children. Among their pets was a large tabby cat. One 
day Mrs. Wright and all the children but one son went 
away on a visit. Mr. Wright and the boy staid at home. 

While they were asleep at night, their cottage took fire. 
It burned fast and the smoke spread through the house. 
Mr. Wright and the boy did not know it as they slept 
soundly. The cat was awake, however, and knew the 
danger. She jumped up on the bed and scratched their 
faces and wakened them. They sprang up and rushed 
from the burning building. If the cat had not awakened 
them, they would have been suffocated by the smoke. It 
was a wise cat and no doubt Mr. Wright and his son were 
very grateful to her for saving their lives. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


159 


A BAD CAT. 

A little girl lived in Munhall, near Homestead. She 
was only three years old. One day she was playing with 
a big black tom-cat in the kitchen. The two got along 
very pleasantly together for awhile. Pretty soon the 
child got a pair of scissors and looked about for something 
to cut. She noticed the cat’s long whiskers. She, prob- 
ably thought they were too long, so she decided she would 
trim them. She cut them too close and the cat became 
very angry, and made a fierce attack on the child. The 
child’s mother ran to save it from the cross cat. Then the 
cat left the child and sprang upon the woman. It tore 
her body terribly with its'sharp claws and tried to catch 
her by the throat with its teeth. The woman threw up 
her hand to protect her face and got one of her fingers in 
the cat’s mouth. She could not make the cat let go. Just 
then the woman’s husband came home from work. He 
seized the cat by the throat and choked it to death. The 
cat held on to the finger until it was almost dead. The 
woman’s finger was badly torn and the" doctor had to 
amputate it. Perhaps the cat was offended because it was 
robbed of its fine whiskers. 


160 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


HANS AND GRETCHEN. 

Hans and Gretchen were German children and lived in 
a village far across the ocean. They went to school and 
loved to study their lessons and learn. They studied and 
practiced writing at home, also. One day they wanted to 
write in their copy books and sat down at their desk 
which was only a high bench. Their ink-well was empty 
so Hans got up and took the bottle of ink from the cupboard. 
He sat down astride the desk, holding the bottle in both his 
hands, and his pen holder in his mouth He poured the 
ink into the well but he was careless and poured out too 
much. The ink overflowed onto the desk and ran off onto 
the floor. Hans sat up straight and opened his eyes wide 
while his sister looked scared. They knew their mother 
would scold them for getting the ink on her clean floor. 
They tried to wipe up the ink, but they made it worse. 
The ink spread out and made a large black spot. Perhaps 
their mother washed out the ink with lye and soap-suds. 

Hans must be more careful when he fills the ink-well 
again. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


161 


THE YOUTH AND THE NORTHWIND. 

Once on a time, long ago, there was an honest old 
woman who lived with her son. Her husband was dead 
and she was oid and lame. One day she sent her son to 
get some flour. The lad got the flour but he was care- 
less and did not hurry home. He put down the flour and 
ran about to play. While he was loitering the North wind 
came along and stole the flour. 

When the lad came back to the place where he had 
left the flour he was very sorrowful. The flour was gone 
and it was all they had. He thought they must starve. 
He wondered what to do. At last he ran off swiftly to 
the North wind’s cave near the distant sea. He demand- 
ed the flour. He said they would starve if they did not 
have it. “I have it not,” the Northwind growled. “But 
I will give you this table-cloth instead.” It was a magic 
table cloth. When it was spread the lad might order any 
dish and it would appear at once. The boy was much 
pleased and returned towards home. In the evening 
he stopped at an inn just half way home. He showed 
the people what his table cloth could do. In the night 
the dishonest landlord stole the magic table cloth and 
put another cloth in its place. The next day the boy 
continued his journey. He reached home in the evening. 
He told his mother about the wonderful table-cloth. She 
did not think the cloth would do my good and wanted 
U 


m 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


the flour. The lad told her it was well that the North- 
wind stole the flour. Then he spread the cloth and called 
for meat and bread and other things. But it was only a 
common table cloth, so nothing came about. 

Then the youth was angry and hied himself back to 
the North wind’s cave. Said he, “Your table cloth is of no 
account. I want my flour again.” The North wind de- 
clared, “I have not your flour but because you have no 
bread, I wifl give you this goat instead. You have only 
to say, ‘Make money, master Billy,’ and it will make all 
the money you want.” Then the boy was glad. He took 
the goat and started home again. When he reached the 
inn he showed what his wonderful goat could do. It 
made money for him. Then he went A to bed but 
during the night the landlord stole the goat and put an- 
other goat in its place. The next day the lad continued 
his journey homeward. When he reached home he told 
his mother that he had a wonderful goat that could make 
money for them. His mother doubted it and said, “Your 
silly goat can do no good for hungry people.” Then' the 
lad exclaimed, “Make money Mister Goat.” But, alas! it 
was only a common goat and it could do nothing. Then 
the boy was very angry, because he thought he had been 
fooled again. He hastened back to the North wind’s cave 
and again demanded his flour. The ' North wind was 
cross and said he did not have it. He gave the boy olfly 
a cudgel this time. He told him - if he said to the stick, 
“My cudgel hit away” it “would obey him and not stop till 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


163 


he told it to do so. The luckless lad took the cudgel and 
started home again. 

He stopped at the same inn, where he had lodged be- 
for. He did not tell what his cudgel could do. He retired 
and pretended to sleep. By and by the thievish host came 
in and intended to steal the stick. The boy, who was not 
asleep, saw him and cried, “Stop, stop. My cudgel hit 
away.” Then the cudgel hit the man on the, head until 
he cried for mercy. Still the staff kept thumping the 
host about the head. At last he groaned, ‘TIL give you 
back your cloth and goat. Oh! spare my broken head.” 
Then the boy told the cudgel to stop and he got his table- 
cloth and goat again. The next morning he proceeded 
homeward. 

When he reached home he showed his table-cloth and 
goat to his mother. He showed her what they could do. 
After that they always had plenty to eat and lots of 
money. They became rich and the boy married a princ- 
ess when he became a man. He had money for his 
friends and a cudgel for his enemies. 


164 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


GENERAL HOWE AND THE LITTLE REBELS. 

In 1776, the Kevolutionary War began. The people of 
America rebelled against England. British soldiers were 
sent to Boston to watch the people and make them obey 
the laws of King George. General Howe commanded the 



British soldiers. One winter the soldiers camped in Bos- 
ton. The weather was very cold and the ponds were froz- 
en over. The Boston boys liked to slide and skate on the 
ice. The British soldiers liked to tease the boys and broke 
the ice. The boys waited until the ponds were frozen 
again, then they were happy once more. The soldiers 
broke up the ice again. This happened several times. At 
last the boys became very angry. They held a meeting 
and decided to visit Gen. Howe and tell him about his 
soldiers, 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 165 

A number of the boys went to Gen. Howe’s headquarters 
and called him out. They told him how the soldiers had 
broken their ice, made fun of them and called them little 
rebels. They said they would stand it no longer. The 
general was surprised that the boys were so brave. He 
admired them. He thought they were very independent 
like their fathers. He promised to help them. He told 
them if the soldiers broke their ice any more, they should 
be punished. So the Boston boys won a victory over the 
British soldiers. 


-o 


THE VISIT OF ST. NICHOLAS. 

It was the night before Christmas, not very long ago, 
that uncle John saw St. Nicholas. It was while he was 
making his usual Christmas round, in the dead of night 
to the homes of good children that he saw him. Of course 
you want to know all about it, so I will tell you. 

That night the children had all been tucked in bed, and 
were fast in the arms of slumber. Everything was still; 
not even a cricket chirped on the hearth. The stockings, 
big and little, hung in a row on the mantel. Everybody 
knew that good St. Nicholas would come and fill them up 


lee STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 

before morning. Dreams of sugar-plums and toys caused 
the little ones to smile in their sleep. Uncle John and his 
good wife had just put out the lights and got into bed, 
ready for a long winter nap. All at once, there was a 
clattering noise outside and uncle John sprang up from 
his bed and threw open the shutters. The snow covered 
the ground and the moon shone brightly. It made every- 
thing bright and he could see very plainly. 

Out on the lawn, he observed a tiny sleigh and eight 
tiny reindeer. He could see a jolly little man sitting in 
the sleigh. He seemed to be very lively and quick. Uncle 
J ohn know, at once, it was St. Nicholas. He stood very 
still, there in the open window, and watched and listened 
to see what he would do. He could hear him whistle and 
and shout to his reindeer, and call them by name. He 
heard him say Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Yixon, Comet, 
Cupid, Donder and Blizten, so he concluded these were the 
names of the reindeer. The little animals were swifter 
than eagles. In an instant they had leaped onto the 
porch, thence to the top of the wall and the next moment 
Uncle John heard the prancing, stamping and pawing of 
the tiny feet on the roof overhead. 

Uncle John turned from the window just in time to see 
St. Nicholas come down the chimney with a bound. He 
was clad from head to foot in warm furs. His clothes 
were flecked here and therewith soot and ashes. He had 
a bundle of toys flung overlhis shoulder, which made him 
look like a little peddler with his pack. His merry eyes 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


167 


twinkled and his cheeks were red and dimpled. His nose 
was red like a cherry and his beard was long and as white 
as snow. He held a short pipe in his mouth and the smoke 
curled about his head like a wreath. He had a fat round 
face and a little round belly. When he laughed, his belly 
shook like jelly. Altogether he was a chubby, plump 
jolly old fellow and Uncle John had to laugh in spite of 
himself. Then St. Nicholas turned his head a little and 
winked at him good naturedlv. He did not say a word 
but attended to his business. He filled all the stockings 
with bon-bons and toys. Then, with a funny nod, he dis- 
appeared up the chimney. 

Uncle John listened. He heard him get into the sleigh 
and whistle to his reindeer and away they flew like the 
wind. But before they left the roof Uncle John heard 
St. Nicholas call back, “Good night, good night. A happy 
Christmas to all.” Then when Uncle John went to close 
the window they had entirely disappeared. 

Uncle John may have had his doubts about St. Nicholas, 
just like other old people, but after what he saw and heard 
that night, he believed there is indeed a jolly, good St. 
Nicholas who visits our homes at Christmas time and 
makes people very happy. I believe it too, don’t you? 


168 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


BABY AND THE PETS. 


Baby had a very soft and comfortable bed in his cradle. 
Puppy and pussy and her kittens were pets of the nursery. 
They soon found out that Baby’s bed was warmer and more 
comfortable than theirs. They also found out that the 
nurse, mamma and the children paid more attention to 
baby than to them. Perhaps all this made them a little 
jealous. 

One day when nurse and all the rest were out, leaving 
baby alone, the puppy and pussy jumped into the cradle 
and crowded baby out on the floor. Then the kittens also 
got into the baby’s soft bed and cuddled up among the 
warm covers. Puppy sat up on his haunches and looked 
down at the baby on the floor. He seemed to say, “Good 
for you, how do you like it now?” Baby lay very still and 
looked up at the intruders. He said nothing for he had 
not yet learned to talk but, no doubt, he thought a good 
deal. One kitten did not get into the cradle but walked 
up to baby and looked down into his chubby face as if to 
say, “What are you going to do about it?” 

By and by nurse came back; then baby had his rights again 
while the marauders had to scamper to keep their ears 
from being boxed. This shows that the favorite is not 
always safe when his friends are absent. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


169 


THE CAT AND THE HARE. 

Once a gentleman caught a young hare. It was only a 
day or two old. He took it home and gave it to an old 
cat, which had just had some new kittens. The cat 
kept the baby hare and fed it and took care of it just like 
her own babies. The kittens and the hare grew up togeth- 
er. It was funny to see the hare among the kittens for 
it was so different. As her family grew the old cat 
thought it time to teach the young ones to catch mice. 
She tried to teach the hare. But the hare did not care 
for mice and would not do anything. The cat would box 
his ears with her paws and show that she was displeased. 
The hare did not improve in cat-ways. The foster mother 
was puzzled. She thought she had a very dull child. One 
day the old cat and the hare were put out on the lawn to- 
gether. The hare hopped about and nibbed the plants and 
ate the grass with much delight. The cat watched the 
hare some time and seemed to be much disgusted. Cats 
never eat grass or other green plants. How could one of 
her own children do it? At last she seemed to think that 
she had brought up anything but a kitten. She turned 
away in disgust. She would have nothing more to do 
with the hare and refused it shelter after that. 


170 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW: 


THE NEGRO AND THE BOOK. 

A negro lived in a small cabin at the edge of a dark 
forest. He had few neighbors and they lived far away. 
He was very simple and ignorant. One day as he walked 
along the path near his home, he found a book. He 
thought it might be valuable, so he took it home. The 
next day a white man passed his cabin and the negro call- 
ed him in. He showed him the book and asked him what 
it was. The man told him it was a Bible, the best book 
in the world. Then he took his glasses out of his pocket 
and put them on. He read a few verses in the Bible to 
the negro. The negro was surprised and delighted. The 
white man continued his journey. In a few days a 
preacher passed that way. The negro called him in and 
asked him to read the Bible for him. The preacher put 
his spectacles on and read the Bible. The negro thought 
if he had glasses he could read too. So he asked the 
preacher to lend him his glasses. The preacher gave him 
the glasses and he put them on and tried to read, but he 
could not. Then he asked the preacher if he thought he 
could get better glasses that would enable him to read. 
The preacher said he could get gold glasses at the store in 
the village. The next day the negro went to the village. 
He inquired for the man who sold glasses. He found him. 
He told him he wanted a pair of gold spectacles. The 
storekeeper gave him a pair and he put them on. Then 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 171 

he tried to read the book which he had brought with him 
but he could not understand anything. He tried another 
pair, and still another but without being able to read. 
Then the storekeeper asked him if he had ever learned 
to read. He replied that he had not. but thought he could 
read with glasses, if he found the right kind. The store- 
keeper laughed and told him that all the glasses in the 
world would not help him. He told him that glasses were 
not made to help ignorant people to read, but for people 
who had weak eyes, or were near sighted. The negro 
went home sad and disappointed. 


BORROWED PLUMES. 

Once there was a crow which lived with a company of 
other birds. Her feathers were plain and black. Her 
voice was harsh and coarse. She was awkward, but she 
was vain. She thought she had a fine head. The other 
bird's did not like the crow very well. She thought it was 
because her feathers were so plain. She asked the other 
birds to lend her some feathers. The peacock gave her 
some long feathers for her tail. The goose gave her some 
white down for her neck. The hen gave her some for her 
wings. The turtle-dove gave her plumage for her back 


172 STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 

and the jay gave her one or two ont of her crest for her 
head. 

The silly crow stuck her borrowed feathers all over her 
body. Then she thought she was beautiful. She wanted 
all the other birds to see her, so she strutted about the 
yard. The other birds were very polite. They told her 
she was very pretty, but when her back was turned they 
made fun of her. They thought she was very silly. The 
crow sat upon a stump and tried to sing. Then all the 
other birds flapped their wings and ran away. 

Now, some people are like this silly crow. They are 
not satisfied with their own clothes. They are vain and 
try to make other people think they are rich and pretty. 
They borrow their friends 1 things. Sometimes they bor- 
row a hat, sometimes a coat, sometimes shoes, sometimes 
all they can get. Then they visit about and try to be 
smart. They simper and strut. Their friends laugh at 
them on account of their “borrowed plumes.” 

It is best to be contented with one’s own things. If we 
act well we will be thought beautiful, and if we act silly 
we will be considered ugly, even if we have on fine clothes. 
“Handsome is what handsome does.” 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


173 


BABOON AT THE EXPOSITION. 


They had an exposition in St. Louis, where many beau- 
tiful and costly things were on exhibition. There were 
also many nice things to eat and drink there. Among the 
other attractions was a large baboon. His name was 
“Nigger.” One evening his keeper gave him his supper 
of dog-biscuit and locked him in his cage. By and by the 
baboon contrived to escape from the cage. He ran all 
about the exhibition and frightened the people. He scat- 
tered things about and ate whatever he could find. 
He ate matches, red fire and raw eggs among other 
things. He found a case of beer, knocked off the heads 
of several bottles and drank the liquor. The beer seemed 
to make him feel merry. At last “Nigger” got an arm- 
ful of eggs. He stood before a mirror and threw them at 
his own image. After that he lay down in a corner and 
went to sleep. He was then captured and put back into 
his cage. The next day he was all right. The things he 
had eaten did not seem to do him any harm. 


174 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


VANLANDER AND AMILIAS. 

Yanlancler was a famous smith. He was the Scandina- 
vian Vulcan. Vanlander was at the court of King Ni- 
dung. His fame as a smith became known there. This 
caused the king’s smith, Amilias, to become jealous of 
Vanlander. He wanted the people to think him the best 
smith in the kingdom.. Accordingly he challenged Van- 
lander to a trial of skill. Amilias was to make a suit of 
armor and Vanlander a sword. If Vanlander’s sword 
could cut through Amilias’ armor then Amilias’ life should 
be forfeited to Vanlander. But if Vanlander’s sword 
dould not pierce the prmor, then Vanlander’s life should 
be forfeited to Amilias. Twelve months were allowed for 
the trial. , • .. , 

Amilias worked at his armor the whole twelve months 
but Vanlander did not begin his task until two months 
before the trial. Then he went to his smithy and forged 
a beautiful sword which was very' large and heavy. He 
showed it to the king. The king admired its beauty. To 
test the sword, Vanlnader took a cushion, filled with wool, 
one foot thick. He put this cushion in a stream and al- 
lowed it to float down against the edge of the sword. The 
sword cut the cushion in two. The king thought it was a 
remarkable sword but Vanlander did not think it was 
good enough. He took it back to his smithy and filed it 
all up. He made a new sword out of the filings. This he 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


175 


took to the king. They tried the new sword as before but 
this time the cushion was two feet thick. The sword cut 
it in two easily. King Nidung thought the sword was 
surely good enough now but Vanlander was not satisfied. 
He returned to his smithy and again filed down the sword 
and made a new one. This time it was the proper size. 
It was polished and adorned with jewels. He took it to 
the king who admired its beauty and workmanship. They 
took it to the river and now they had a cushion three feet 
thick. This cushion floated down against the edge of the 
sword and was cut in two without stopping a moment . 
Vanlander was now satisfied. 

, - . The day for the test arrived. Amilias put. on his new 

. < -armor. It was made of double .plates- of steel. ,He felt 
sure Vanlander’s -sword could not pierce it. Amilias 
seated tiiniself in achair before the king and his* court. 
He bade V anlander do his best. V anlander took his 
sword and stood- behind his rival. He lifted the sword 
and smote Amilias on the helmet with all his might. Then 
he asked Amilias if. he felt anything. He said he felt ais 
it cold water was running through him. : “Shake yourself,” 
said Vanlander. Amilias did so and his head fell asunder. 
The terrible sword had cleft both the armor and his head 
to the chin. So. Vanlander won the contest with his 
wonderful sword. . 


176 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


THE LION AND THE MOUSE. 

The lion was very large and strong. He had a long 
mane and large paws. One day he lay in the tall grass 
and slept. A tiny mouse came out of its nest near the 
lion. It ran about to find food. It ran over the lion’s 
paws. The lion awoke and saw the mouse. He put his 
paw on it. The mouse squealed and begged the great 
lion to let it go. “I am only a little thing,” said the 
mouse. “I can do you no harm but I may be able to help 
you sometime.” The lion smiled. He thought such a tiny 
little thing could be of no use, but he let it go. A few 
days later the lion was walking through the jungle. He 
was caught in a net. He struggled to get out. The ropes 
drew tighter and tighter and held him fast. He roared 
loudly. The little mouse which lived near, heard the 
lion. It ran to him. It saw that the lion was in trouble. 
“Now I will help you,” said the mouse. It gnawed the 
strong ropes with its sharp teeth. Soon the ropes were 
cut and the lion was free again. The lion thanked the 
mouse. He was glad he had spared its life. 

This story teaches us that we must not despise little 
things. Sometime they may be useful to us. It also 
teaches us to be kind to the small and the weak. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


177 


A ROLAND FOR AN OLIVER. 

Charlemagne, or Charles the Great, was king of France, 
His cousin, Milon, married his sister, Bertha, secretly, 
Milon was, therefore, banished from France. Milon and 
Bertha, his wife, fled to Italy. Near the town of Surti 
they found a cave where they made their home. Here 
their son, Roland, was born. In this cave the mother and 
son lived, depending on the kindness of the people for their 
support. Milon went to foreign countries to seek renown 
,and fortune. 

Roland grew up among the common children of the neigh- 
borhood. He was stronger and more manly than any of 
them. Oliver, the son of the governor of the town, was 
<one of his companions. He was about as old as Roland. 

When quite young Roland and Oliver became jealous of 
each other. They quarreled frequently and at last had a 
terrible fight in which Roland beat his rival. After this 
fight the two boys became great and firm friends and al- 
ways helped each other. 

Roland’s mother was poor and sometimes he was halB 
naked. Roland was a favorite among the boys so they 
brought some cloth to make him a suit. Some brought 
red and others white, so he had red and white for his colors. 

When Charlemagne was on the way to Rome, to receive 
a crown, he stopped at Sutri. He had a public dinner. 
That day Roland and his mother had nothing to eat. As 
12 


178 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 

Roland was walking through the street he saw the king’s 
servants carrying an abundance of food. He rushed up, 
seized the food and ran away with it. 

Charlemagne heard of it and sent some soldiers after the 
boy. They followed him to the cave. There they found 
the king’s sister, Bertha. They told the king and he for- 
gave her. He took her and Roland back to France. The 
great king was very fond of Roland. Roland learned and 
improved very fast and became a great knight. Once he 
vanquished a Saracen warrior and took from him the 
famous sword, “Durindana.” This sword had once be- 
longed to prince Hector of Troy. It was very fine and 
strong. No armor could stand against it. 

Guerin was the name of a powerful knight. He was 
governor of Vienna, subject to Charlemagne. Guerin 
quarreled with the king and Charlemagne marched 
with an army and besieged the city. Guerin was old and 
infirm, but he had four sons and two grandsons, who 
were among the bravest knights in the world. One of 
the grandsons was Oliver. Guerin thought his sons and 
grandsons could easily defend his city. The siege of the 
city continued two months. At last it was agreed to de- 
cide the contest by a fight between two knights— one from 
each side. The knights were to be chosen by lot. From 
Charlemagne’s army the lot fell to Roland. From Guer- 
ms army the lot fell to Oliver. The two knights did not 
mow who the other was. They were dressed in complete 
armor with helmets and visors, so they could not see the. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 179 

face. The knights met on an island in the river between 
the two armies. 

They rode spirited chargers and at the first shock both 
lances were broken to splinters. The knights then dis- 
mounted and drew their swords. For two hours they 
struggled and fought. They struck and parried and 
thrust. Neither seemed to be tired and neither had gain- 
ed an advantage over the other. 

At last Roland struck furiously at the other and buried 
“Durindana” so deep in the edge of his shield that he 
could not withdraw it. At the same moment Oliver 
thurst so hard upon Roland’s breast-plate that his sword 
broke off at the hilt. Now both were weaponless. They 
rushed at each other and each tried to throw the other 
down. Neither succeeded. Each snatched at the other’s hel- 
met and pulled it off. At the same instant each stood bare 
headed, face to face. Then Roland recognized Oliver, and 
Oliver knew Roland. They were much surprised and for an 
instant stood still. Then they rushed into each other’s 
arms. “I am conquered,” said Roland. “I yield,” cried 
Oliver. 

The people on the shore did not know what it all meant. 
Soon they saw the two contestants standing hand-in-hand 
so they knew the battle was at an end. The knights crowd- 
ed around them. It was decided that they were equal in 
glory. This left the quarrel, between Charlemagne and 
Guerin, still undecided. But peace was finally made. The 
two armies joined together and marched against other foes, 


180 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


So now, when contestants contend against each other 
wisely, valiantly and equally we say, “A Roland for an 
Oliver.” 


-o- 


HORATIUS. 


King Traquin was banished from Kome. Lucius Junius 
Brutus was made cousul of the Komans in place of the 
king. Tarquin tried hard to get back into power at Kome. 
In one battle his son, Arnus, and Brutus were killed in 
single combat. Valerius was, then, made chief consul. 
After that Tarquin went to Lars Porsena, the Etruscan 
king, and* persuaded him to help him recover his crown. 
Porsena agreed to help him and collected a large army of 
the best and bravest men in his kingdom. Then he- 
marched to Rome. At that time, there were not many 
soldiers at home. They were away, fighting in other 
places. As Persena’s army advanced, they captured the 
Roman forts and beat back the small forces sent against 
them, The Romans retreated across the bridge into Rome. 
The enemy followed close behind. If they could get across 
the bridge, the city would be lost. The consul orderd the 
bridge to be cut down in order to save the city. The 
enemy was near. They would reach the bridge before it 
could be destroyed, vyhat could bp done? The people were, 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


181 


in despair. Then a brave Roman, named Horatius Codes 
said that with two others to help him, he would go across 
the bridge and meet the enemy. The way was narrow 
and three brave men could keep them in check Horatius 
was not afraid. He said, death came to every one soon 
or late and it would be an honor to die for his home. Then 
Lartius and Herminius, two other Romans, desired to go 
with Horatius. The three went over and stood in the way 
of the great army of Persenaand Tarquin. 

When the vanguard came up, a great shout of laughter 
rose. There were only three against thousands. Three 
of the bravest Etruscans rushed from the ranks to win the 
narrow pass. Lartius seized one and hurled him into the 
stream. Herminius struck another and clove him to the 
chin while Horatius thrust his sword clear through the 
third. Other champions came forward but they too, were 
slain. Still others came on but they were cut down 
by the dauntless three. 

The whole army of Porsena now halted. Those in the 
rear cried, “Forward” those in front cried, “Back.” At 
last Astur, a giant in stature and strength, stalked to the 
front. His shield and sword were such as none but he 
could wield. He looked contemptuously at the three brave 
Romans who had blocked the way to Rome. He strode 
proudly forward, his ponderous sword uplifted. He struck 
at Horatius. Horatius, with sword and shield, warded off 
the mighty blows. In the struggle his thigh was gashed. 

Then, like a wild cat mad with wounds, he sprang right 


182 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


in Astur’s face. His sword was driven clear through the 
giant’s helmet and head. He fell with a crash. Horatius 
planted his heel on his throat and tugged hard to pull out 
his blade. After this no one dared to meet the three de- 
fenders of the bridge. 

While Horatius and the other two were checking the ad 
vance of the foe, others were at work on the bridge. The 
beams were cut and it began to creak and crack. Soon it 
would fall. They shouted to the three to come back before 
the bridge fell. Lartius and Herminius darted back. 
When they reached the other side, they looked round and 
saw that Horatius was still in front of the enemy. They 
would have gone back and stood by him but with a mighty 
crash the bridge fell into the stream. Horatius was left 
alone. Tarquin wanted to kill him. Porsena command- 
ed him to surrender. Horatius said not a word. He turn- 
ed his back to the foe. He sheathed his sword and walk- 
ed to the water’s edge. The Tiber was high from recent 
rains. He did not wait a moment, but with all his armor 
on, he plunged into the tide. He was sore wounded. He 
had lost much blood. He was tired from fighting, but was 
brave. Again and again he sank and then came up near- 
er and nearer the other shore. All thought he would be 
drowned. The Etruscans cast their spears and shot many 
arrows at him. One arrow struck him in the eye and put 
it out. Yet he reached the shore in safety. The people 
crowded around him and shook his hand. He had saved 
the city. He was lifted and carried on the shoulders of 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


183 


the people to his home. Money and lands were given him. 
After this he could fight no more for he was lame and 
blind in one eye. He was called Codes because that 
means one-eyed. A brazen statute was set up in his hon- 
or in the temple of Vulcan. 


o- 


DAVID AND JONATHAN. 

Saul was the king of Israel. He was tall and strong 
and noble looking but he did not do what pleased God. 
God chose another who should be king in his place some- 
time. 

David was the son of Jesse. He was a shepherd boy 
and took care of his father’s sheep. He loved and feared 
God. God was pleased with him. David was brave and 
feared no enemy for he knew that God was “on his side.” 
One time a fierce bear came and would have killed his 
sheep but he slew it. Another time a roaring lion came 
to devour his lambs and he killed it too, and saved his 
flocks. He did not boast of his skill or bravery but gave 
all the credit to God. 

King Saul was at war with the Philistines. Each army 
feared the other. The Philistines had one very large sol- 
dier. He was about ten feet tall. He was larger and 


184 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW 



STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


186 


stronger than any other man in the two arir ies. His 
name was Goliath. He came out every day and challeng- 
ed any of Saul’s soldiers to come and fight with him. No 
one dared to go. 

Now it happened that David’s brothers were with Saul’s 
army. His father sent him with provisions for his broth- 
ers. David saw Goliath and heard his boastful challenge. 
He thought it was a shame that no one dared to go and 
fight for the Lord’s people. He determined to go and 
fight him himself for he knew that God would help him. 
He had no sword or armour. He took only his staff, a 
sling and five smooth stones from the brook. He put a 
stone in the sling and slung it. It struck the great giant 
on the forehead and he fell upon the ground. Then David 
ran up and cut off his head with his own sword. So with 
God’s help David won a great victory. The Philistines fled 
and the Israelites pursued and slew many of them. 

After the battle the people praised David more than they 
did King Saul. This made the king very angry and he 
was jealous of David. He tried to kill David but God pro- 
tected him. Saul had a son named Jonathan. He was good, 
brave and generous. Jonathan and David loved each 
other very much. Jonathan helped David to escape from 
his father. He warned him when there was danger. He 
risked his life to help his friend to escape. He gave up 
his father’s kingdom for he knew that God favored David. 

Once Jonathan told David to make haste and go away 
because his father was determined to kill him if he could 


186 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


find him. The two faithful friends met in secret and em- 
braced each other. They wept. Then they parted. 
David went away into the mountains and wild places to 
hide from Saul, and Jonathan went home to watch and 
warn his friend of danger. The king tried hard to cap- 
ture David but he never succeeded. Two or three times 
David had a chance to kill the king but he did not do so 
because he knew it would not be right. He also remem- 
bered that Saul was Jonathan’s father and he would not 
do anything to grieve his friend. 

At last King Saul went to fight against the Philistines 
and was beaten. God did not help him because he was 
wicked. When Saul saw that the battle was lost, he fear- 
er! being taken prisoner by the enemy. He fell upon his 
own sword and killed himself. Jonathan was killed in 
this battle too. When David heard of it, he grieved very 
much for his friend. After this David became King of 
Israel and lived many years. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


187 


HORATII AND CURIATII. 

In the early days before Rome had gained much power 
she had disputes with other cities for the mastery. Other 
cities besides Rome desired to be great. At this time the 
Romans contended with the Albans. At last it was agreed 
that the two cities should join together as one. There 
was a dispute, however, as to which should be the greater 
city. It was finally decided to settle the dispute by a com- 
bat. 

In the Alban city there were three brothers born at a 
birth, named Curiatus. Among the Romans there were also 
three brothers born at a birth. Their family name was 
Horatius. The mothers of these young men were sisters 
so they were therefore cousins. It was decided that the 
three Curiatii on one side and the three Horatii on the other 
should fight and decide the dispute. They met on a plain 
between the two camps. It was a very hard fight for they 
were all skilled warriors. It continued a long time until 
two of the Horatii were killed and all three of the Curiatii 
were wounded. The last Horatius was not injured but he 
could not withstand the three wounded Curiatii together. 
He began to run and the Curiatii ran after him. They did 
not all keep together for some of them were badly wound- 
ed. After running awhile the Curiatii were some distance 
apart. When the Romans saw Horatius running they 
thought he was afraid and gave up the fight. They groan- 


138 STORtES, OLD AND NEW. 

ed and hissed at him. Horatius was wise. When he saw 
that the Curiatii were far enough apart he stopped sudden- 
ly and met the foremost one and slew him. Then he met 
the second and killed him also. The third met the same 
fate, so Horatius was victorious and Rome was the master 
of the Albans. The Romans stripped the Curiatii and gave 
their garments to Horatius. With these garments, he 
entered Rome. 

Now, it happed that the sister of Horatius was betroth- 
ed to one of the Curiatii. She was very anxious to know the 
fate of her lover. She went out to meet her brother. 
When she saw him bearing the garments of the Curiatii, 
she knew that her lover was dead. She shrieked and ac- 
cused her brother of murdering hor lover. Horatius was 
very angry because she wept for Curiatius and had forgot- 
ten her own brothers who had been killed. He drew his 
sword and killed his sister on the spot. This act shocked the 
people. Horatius was tried and condemned to die but his 
friends pleaded for his life. So the consul spared his life 
but compelled him to pass under the yoke, as a sort of 
punishment for the murder of his sister. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


189 


ABSENT MINDED. 


Once there was a noted artist. He could paint beau- 
tiful pictures and he loved his art. Whenever he found a 
nice smooth surface anywhere he liked to draw and paint 
pictures on it. One day his wife was sick and her back 
pained her very much. The doctor visited her and pre- 
scribed for her. He told her husband, the artist, to put 
iodine on her back with a brush. When the doctor was 
gone the artist got the iodine and a brush and proceeded 
to do as the doctor had directed. His wife’s back was 
smooth and white. The artist imagined that it was a 
nice smooth canvas and began to paint a picture on it. 
He painted trees and flowers and other things. By and 
by his wife became impatient and asked him w r hat he 
was doing so long. Then the artist came to himself and 
saw that he had painted a picture on his wife’s back 
while he w r as dreaming. He told his wife what he had 
done by mistake and they both laughed heartily. 

I think the laugh did his wife as much good as the 
iodine. 


190 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


THE STORK AND THE DOG. 

A large stork lived in the park. A stork is a large 
queer-looking bird. It has very long legs and a long bill. 
One dav a small dog came into the park. He came near 
the stork. Just then somebody threw an apple on the 
grass. The dog wanted to play with the apple and the 
stork wanted to eat it. They both ran after it. The stork 
reached it first and picked it up. He held it in his bill 
and the dog ran about and barked at the stork. The 
stork could not swallow the apple so he put it down and 
jabbed it with his bill. The dog ran and took the apple 
away from the stork. But the stork ran after the dog 
and made him drop the apple. The stork got it again. 
He could not eat it because when he put it down, the dog 
would run for it. Many people watched the dog and the 
stork. They were much amused, 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


191 


AARON BURR’S DAUGHTER. 

Aaron Burr was a noted figure in the United States 
early in its history. He was a noted lawyer and an am- 
bitious and able man. He quarreled with Alexander 
Hamilton and killed him in a duel in 1804 . Afterward 
Burr plotted against the government of the United States 
and was tried for treason. He was acquitted but left the 
country and visited Europe. 

Burr had but one child, a daughter. She was talented 
like her father, and very beautiful. She Jived with her 
husband, a Mr. Alston, in Charleston, South Carolina. 
Her father, after a long visit in Europe decided to return 
to America. He wrote to his daughter and asked her to 
meet him in New York. At that time there were no 
railroads. The only way to reach New York from 
Charleston was by stage or by ships. Burr’s daughter 
decided to go by ship. Her husband did not accompany 
her. She took passage in a schooner for New York. She 
took with her her own portrait which she intended to pre- 
sent to her father, and a small dog. After she embarked 
at Charleston, she was never seen by her friends again. It 
was a long time before it was discovered what had be- 
come of her. It is now known that pirates captured the 
schooner in which she was, and murdered the crew and 
passengers by throwing them overboard. After robbing 
the vessel the pirates set it adrift and it was wrecked op 


192 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


the coast near Nags Head, North Carolina. Before the 
vessel went down the people who lived on the coast res- 
cued the picture and the dog. The picture is still pre- 
served as a valued relic of Aaron Burr and the tragic fate 
of his beautiful daughter. 


A RING OF ILL-OMEN. 


Alphonso XII., king of Spain, had a splendid ring made. 
It was set with costly diamonds and pearls. He gave the 
ring to his cousin, Mercedes, the day they were betrothed. 
Mercedes lived but a short time after that. After the 
death of Mercedes the valuable ring was given to Alphon- 
so’s grandmother who died soon afterward. Then the 
king gave the ring to his sister, who died within a month. 
The ring was next worn by Christiene, the daughter of 
the Duke of Montpensier. In less than 100 days this lady 
was also dead. Alphonso then locked up the fatal ring in 
his own casket and inside of a year the king himself was 
summoned by the grim reaper. The jewel was then plac- 
ed around the neck of the statue of the Maid of Alma- 
dena, the patron saint of Madrid, where it still remains. 
It may be seen by every one who passes. It is very val- 
uable but no one dares to take it, so it is safe where it 
hangs in the public street. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


193 


ZINTKA LANUNI. 


Zintka Lanuni is a little Indian girl about six years old. 
She is the adopted daughter of Mrs. Clara Bewick Colby 
of Beatrice, Nebraska. Zintka was a foundling on a 
battle field, away out in South Dakota. 

The Sioux Indians in South Dakota began to make 
trouble. They were ordered to disband and go to their 
homes. They refused to do this.. Advised by their med- 
icine men, they attacked the United States troops. Then 
the troops charged the Indians and all who appeared were 
slain. This was called the battle of Wounded-knee Creek. 
Colonel Colby took part in this battle. Just after the 
battle a severe storm set in and the Indians, who had 
been killed in the battle, were left unburied, save by the 
snow, for four days. On the fourth day a little girl baby 
was found in its dead mother’s arms under the deep 
snow. The squaw had been shot during the battle and as 
she fell she had wrapped her blanket around her baby 
and held it close. This and the covering of snow kept 
the tender babe from freezing. It was very weak for 
want of food when discovered. Kind hands carried it to 
some Indian women who nursed it carefully and it soon 
revived. As the women nursed it they kept saying soft- 
ly, “Zintka Lanuni,” “Zintka Lanuni,” which are Indian 
words and mean, “Poor lost bird.” So the foundling was 
named Zintka Lanuni. 


13 


194 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


When Mr. and Mrs. Colby heard of the baby they de- 
cided to adopt it, as they had no children of their own. 
They took good care of the baby and as it grew they 
taught it just like other children. Zintka is dark com- 
plexioned with black eyes and long, black silky hair. 
She is very bright and goes to Kindergarten where she 
learns very fast. Sometimes she can read people’s 
thoughts and often answers their questions before they 
have asked them. 

When Zintka was found in the snow, she wore a pretty 
shawl and a very pretty bonnet which her Indian mam- 
ma had made for her. The bonnet was made of soft 
buck-skin, covered with colored beads, worked in beautiful 
patterns. On each side was the picture of a flag made of 
bright red, white and blue beads. 

Mrs. Colby is very proud of her adopted daughter, Zintka, 
and she hopes to train her to be a good Christian and 
a useful woman. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


195 


THE GAULS IN ROME. 

A long time ago the Gauls lived in the country north of 
Italy. They were a rough and warlike people. About 
the year 390, Brennus was the leader of the Gauls, who 
had crossed the Alps into Italy. The Gauls were pretty 
much like freebooters or robbers. They went about the 
country robbing and killing the people. The Romans 
tried to stop Brennus, but he became very angry and 
marched against Rome. 

The Romans sent an army to meet Brennus. They 
thought they could win an easy victory, but they were 
defeated by the Gauls. The Roman army was broken up 
and Ifled. The unwelcome news was carried to Rome 
and the people were filled with fear and dread. The 
enemy was marching toward the city. There were no 
soldiers in Rome to resist them. The people fled to the 
country, carrying what they could with them. 

Only the garrison in the Capitol, which was built on a 
high, steep hill, and eighty senators remained in Rome. 
All others had fled. The Gauls came on and ran all over 
the city. They collected all the treasures they could find. 
They burned the houses. In the Forum they found the 
eighty senators sitting quietly in their chairs. The sena- 
tors were old with long white beards. When the Gauls 
first saw them they were awe-stricken by their dignified 


196 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 



STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 197 

appearance. Soon however, the Gauls fell upon the sen- 
ators and killed them all. 

The Gauls also tried to capture the Capitol but they 
could not. The hill was too steep. On one side of the 
Capitol there was a steep precipice. One dark night the 
Gauls tried to climb up this precipice and surprise the 
garrison. Some soldiers stood together with their shields 
over their heads. Some other soldiers climbed up and 
stood on the shields and held their own shields over their 
heads also. Then others climbed up and stood on these 
other shields, so they could reach ledges of rocks above 
their heads. Several went up this way. They climbed 
very quietly, clinging to the vines and bushes which grew 
on the precipice. Finally two of the Gauls reached the 
top and just as they did so, some geese which the Romans 
kept, as sacred to Juno, began to scream and cackle. 
This noise brought to the spot a brave officer, Marcus 
Manlius, who discovered the Gauls. With his sword he 
cut off the hand of one and knocked the other over with 
his buckler. Both Gauls fell headlong, down the precipice, 
knocking down their companions who were coming up 
after them. So the Capitol was saved and the Romans 
thanked Juno for saving them by means of her sacred 
geese. 


198 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


WILLIAM PENN. 

William Penn was born on the 14th of October, 1644. 
His father was an English admiral and his mother a 
Dutch lady. Admiral Penn was a rich and fashionable 
man and was quite popular at the court of the king. He 
desired his only son, William, to become famous like him- 
self, so he sent him to college at Oxford. 

William Penn was expelled from Oxford, because he fol- 
lowed the teachings of the Quakers. This displeased his 
father very much and he was beaten and turned out of 
doors. Afterward his father sent him to France to com- 
plete his education and forget the Quakers. He remain- 
ed in France several years and traveled a good deal. 
After his return to England he studied law but he had 
no taste for it and soon gave it up. 

During the great plague in London, which took place in 
1666, Penn witnessed much distress. Hundreds of people 
were dying, without friends or assistance. Penn’s heart 
was touched, and he began to think of the teachings of 
the Quakers again. Then his father sent him to Ireland 
on business. While in Ireland, he was a soldier for a 
time. He also attended Quaker meetings, and soon be- 
came an avowed follower of George Fox, the famous 
Quaker leader. 

The Quakers thought it was wrong to go to war. They 
would not take oft their hats to anybody. They wore plain 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 19 & 

clothes and tried to do good. When Penn went home 
from Ireland, he refused to honor his father by taking off 
his hat to him. He would not even take off his hat to the 
king, or in the presence of the judges in court. Penn 
wrote books in support of Quakerism. He also travel- 
ed and preached in various countries. He was cast into 
prison on account of his opinions but his father helped 
to get him out. At that time the Quakers were much 
persecuted and Penn did much to help them. 

When admiral Penn died he left all his property to his 
son, William. He also left a large sum of money in the 
hands of the king. The king could not pay this money so 
Penn induced him to grant him a tract of land in Amer- 
ica west of the Delaware river in payment of the debt. 
The king agreed to do this and called the province Penn- 
sylvania in honor of the admiral. Penn, himself, wished 
to call it New Wales, or Sylvania. 

When Penn had secured the land he collected Quakers 
and other persecuted people and sent them to begin a set- 
tlement in his new province. The first company sailed 
up the Delaware in 1681. The next year Penn himself 
came over. He started with one hundred Quakers but 
during the voyage smallpox broke out and thirty of them 
died of this terrible disease. 

Penn laid out the city of Philadelphia, which means 
“Brotherly Love,” in 1682 and invited all good people to 
settle there. He made everything free. He treated the 
Indians justly and paid for their lands. He showed that 


206 STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 

he was their friend and they appreciated his kindness. 
Penn never had any trouble with his red neighbors. Penn 
also sold land to the settlers in small pieces, so that all 
poor people might own their farms. 

All these things caused Pennsylvania to grow faster 
than any other colony in America. The Quakers lived in 
peace with everybody. They were not proud or greedy. 
Penn visited his colony several times. His house may 
yet be seen in Philadelphia. He died in London on the 
30th of May, 1718. 


-o- 


BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 

Benjamin Franklin was one of the most distinguished 
men of this country. He was a great writer, a philoso- 
pher and a patriot. When he was young he was honest 
and a hard worker. He studied very hard and read all 
the good books he could get. 

Franklin was born in Boston, January 17th, 1706. 
His father was a soap boiler and candlemaker. He was 
not rich and had to work hard to support a large family. 
Benjamin was the fifteenth child in the family. He 
learned to read when quite young. He was more delight- 
ed with a book than other children with toys. He 


201 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 



20 2 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


attended school only two years. He learned very fast, 
however, and soon knew as much, and more than his 
brothers and sisters. 

Benjamin did not read and study all the time when he 
was a child. He liked to play, too. He was very clever 
and often did amusing things and got into mischief like 
other boys. He was strong and active and an excellent 
swimmer. 

At the age of ten, Franklin had to help his father in 
the soap and candle factory. He tended the store, filled 
the candle moulds and went on errands. He made him- 
self useful but he did not like this kind of business. He 
wanted to do something that would help to improve his 
mind. He thought of running off to sea, but his father 
prevented it. At last he was apprenticed to learn the 
printing trade with his brother, James, who had a print- 
ing-office in Boston. He liked printing because he could 
get more books and papers to read. He soon learned to 
write articles for the papers. 

Benjamin and his brother, James, did not agree very 
well together, so they parted and Benjamin went to New 
York to get work. But in New York he could not get a 
job, so he concluded to go to Philadelphia. He had very 
little money, so he walked part of the way to Philadel- 
phia. He tramped through rain and mud and was hun- 
gry sometimes. He did not give up but kept on. When 
he reached the “City of Brotherly Love” the first thing he 
did was to visit a baker’s shop and buy some rolls. He 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


203 


carried a roll under each arm and one in his hand which 
he ate as he walked along the street. He did not care if 
the people smiled or laughed at him. One young girl, 
Dorothy Read, laughed heartily when she saw him. 
Franklin looked very funny. His clothes were splashed 
with mud and besides the rolls under his arms, his spare 
stockings and shirt were sticking out of his pockets. It 
was enough to make anybody laugh. In a few years, 
this same young lady became Franklin’s wife and helped 
him in his business. 

Franklin soon became the best printer in Philadelphia. 
Governor Keith encouraged him to go to London to get a 
new press and types and promised to help him. When 
Franklin had reached London, he found that Keith had 
deceived him. He was without money or friends. He 
soon found employment in a printing-office. Here he 
learned some new things about the business and earned 
enough money to go back to Philadelphia. He could 
make ink and cast types and engrave on type metal. 
He became a very useful man. 

By and by Franklin had his own printing-office and 
printed a newspaper, The Pennsylvania Gazette. It was 
the best newpaper in America at that time. He also 
studied hard and learned several languages. He could 
read French, Italian, Spanish and Latin. He discovered 
that lightningwas the same as electricity and invented 
the lightning-rod. He became famous because he was 
wise and sensible. 


204 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 

Franklin was appointed to various public offices. He 
was elected to the Pennsylvania assembly for fourteen 
years. He was sent to England by the colonists to settle 
difficulties. After the War of the Revolution broke out, he 
was sent to France to persuade that country to assist the 
Americans. He was very successful. 

Franklin also worked hard to improve the conditions of 
society in America. He organized the first police and 
first fire company in the colonies. He also founded the 
first library in this country. He started a hospital and a 
high school, which afterward became the University of 
Pennsylvania. He also organized the first society for the 
abolition of slavery. 

On account of his many services to the colonists and 
his wisdom and sagacity, Benjamin Franklin became the 
most popular man in America, except Washington. He 
died on the 17th of April, 1790. He was mourned by the 
whole country and twenty thousand people attended his 
funeral. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


205 


ABRAHAM AND ISAAC. 

Abraham was a good man who lived a great many ages 
ago. He was the great father of all the Jewish people 
found in the world. He loved and served the Lord faith- 
fully. He never doubted God’s goodness. His wife’s name 
was Sarah. 

God appeared to Abraham several times. He promised 
him that his children should multiply and become a great 
nation. Abraham and Sarah were nearly one hundred 
years old but they had no children. Still Abraham had 
faith in God’s promise. He waited patiently. 

When Abraham was one hundred years old he had a 
son and he named him Isaac. Abraham and Sarah were 
very glad that God had remembered them and given them 
a son. Isaac grew larger and stronger every day 
and Abraham and Sarah loved him very much. 

Abraham was very faithful to God. He was always 
willing to obey. God was pleased with Abraham’s faith. 
He gave him great riches and power. Abraham had a 
great many servants who took care of his flocks of cattle 
and sheep. 

God wished to prove Abraham’s faith. He commanded 
him to take his son Isaac and offer him up for a burnt 
offering. Yes, God told Abraham to kill his only son, lay 
him on the wood on the altar and let him be burnt as if 
he were a lamb. This was very hard for Abraham to dc, 
but he prepared to obey God. 


206 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


207 


Abraham took his son, Isaac and travelled a three days 
journey to a certain mountain. Isaac did not know he 
was to be the sacrifice. They built an altar and put the 
wood on it. Then Abraham took Isaac and bound him 
and put him on the wood on the altar. He raised his knife 
to kill Isaac but just then an angel from God called to 
him and told him not to kill Isaac. God had tried him and 
found him faithful. 

Then Abraham saw a ram caught in the bushes by the 
horns. God had sent the ram there to be a burnt offering 
instead of Isaac. And Abraham took the ram and killed 
him and offered him up on the altar. He was glad that 
God had spared Isaac. 

The angel spoke to Abraham again. He told him that 
God was pleased because he was faithful and obedient. He 
told him that God would bless him and make him great. 
He told him that his descendants should be so many that 
they could not be counted. After that Abraham and 
Isaac came down from the mountain and returned to 
their home. 


208 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


DANIEL BOONE. 

Daniel Boone was a Kentucky pioneer and hunter. He 
was born on the 11th of February, 1835, in Bucks county, 
Pennsylvania. His parents came from England. At that 
time Pennsylvania was almost covered with forests and 
young Boone became an excellent hunter when he was 
very young. He loved nature and he loved to wander 
through the woods and over the mountains in search of 
game. He was an accurate marksman. He could track 
the wild breast or the Indian easily and seldom made mis- 
takes. 

When Boone was a mere lad he went off one morning 
to hunt and did not come home in the evening. His 
friends were alarmed. They feared he had met with 
some accident. A large party went in search of him. 
They searched two days and at last found him only three 
miles from home. He had built a little hut and was sitting 
before a fire broiling meat. He had not been lost at all. 
He was having a good time alone in the woods. 

When Daniel Boone was a man his parents moved to 
North Carolina where they cleared a new farm. Daniel 
did not like farm work, so he hunted most of the time and 
supplied the family with meat. Boone crossed the Alle- 
ghany mountains and visited what is now Tennessee and 
Kentucky. It was a very beautiful country and full of all 
kinds of game, so he decided to make it his home. With 
only one companion, he explored the country and select- 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


209 


ed a place to make a settlement. This is a dangerous 
trip for the woods were full of hostile Indians. Once they 
were captured by a large body of savages, but they man- 
aged to escape. Afterward Boone’s companion was killed 
by the Indians and he remained alone for many months, 
but at last returned to his home in North Carolina. 

Boone told the people about the beautiful country west 
of the mountains and a large party decided to move thith- 
er. The journey to Kentucky was interrupted by an at- 
tack by the Indians and several persons were killed, in- 
cluding one of Boone’s sons. The party then went back 
to wait for a more suitable time. 

Boone was made a captain by the governor of Viriginia. 
He acted as guide to a surveying party in Kentucky and 
kept off the Indians. Later he was at the battle of Point 
Pleasant and fought against Red Eagle, Logan and other 
great Indian Chiefs. After this Boone brought his party 
from North Carolina to Kentucky and made a settlement 
on the south bank of the Kentucky river. They called it 
Boonesborough. It was a beautiful place and the settlers 
soon had a fort and houses built and cleared land for 
crops. 

One summer a daughter of Boone and two other girls 
were captured by the Indians, while playing in a canoe 
on the river. They were carried away into the forest by 
the savages. The girls tore pieces from their dresses and 
broke boughs which they dropped on the ground. This 
was to guide their friends when they came after them, 

14 = 


210 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 

Boone and some of his friends followed the trail of the 
Indians and finally came up with them. They fired upon the 
savages, killing several and wounding others. The girls 
were rescued and taken home in safety. 

Boone was again captured by the Indians. He had 
gone with others to the salt licks to make salt. One day 
while the other men were busy, B >one went out alone to 
look for game. He was suddenly surrounded and bound 
by the Indians before he could get away. There were two 
hundred Indians, so Boone advised his friends to surren der 
which they did. The Indians were very proud because 
they had captured the famous hunter. They treated him 
well and took their prisoners to Detroit which was then in 
the hands of the British. They exchanged all their prison- 
ers for goods and rum except Boone. They would not give 
him up although the British offered them five hundred dol- 
lars for him. They took him to their town and adopted 
him into their tribe, the Shawnees. His hair was all pull- 
ed out except a scalp 1 ock. He was then stripped and wash- 
ed in the river after which he was declared to be an Indian 
brave. Boone lived with the savages several months and all 
that th^y he watched for a chance to escape. His friends 
at Boonesborough gave him up as dead and his wife and 
children went back to North Caroline. 

Boone discovered that the Indians were preparing to 
attack Boonesborough, so he contrived to escape. He 
traveled fast, living on berries and roots for he was afraid 
to shoot any game as it would set the Indians on his trail. 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


211 


He reached the fort in safety. His friends were surprised 
but very glad to see him again. They prepared to resist 
the Indians, who, when they came, numbered five hun- 
dred. There were only forty men at the fort to resist 
them. The British assisted the Indians but after a siege 
of twelve days, they left and the fort was safe. 

The Indians admired Boone very much and desired to 
capture him again but they never succeeded, although he 
lived the same wild life. In 1797 Boone moved to Mis- 
souri where he spent the most of his time in the woods, 
hunting. In his old age he was still too smart to let the 
Indians capture him. He had many friends who would 
have taken good care of him but be preferred the wild 
life of the woods. He had his coffin made several years 
before he died and kept it in the house. He was buried 
in this coffin when he died in 1820. His remains were 
afterward removed to Frankfort, Kentucky. 


212 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


HAGAR AND ISHMAEL. 


Hagar was the servant of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. She 
had come from Egypt and she had a son whose name was 
Ishmael. When Isaac, Sarah’s son, was a small boy, Ish- 
mael mocked him. This displeased Sarah very much. 
She told Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. 

Abraham did as Sarah wished. He gave Hagar a bottle 
of water and some bread and sent her and her son away 
from his home. Hagar and Ishmael travelled on foot and 
came to a desert place. The sun was very hot and there 
was no water to be found. They drank all the water in 
the bottle and ate the bread. After that they could get 
no more food or water. They became very hungry and 
thirsty. Hagar laid her son under a tree in the shade, 
then she went away a little piece so she might not see him 
die. She wept for her son. And the angel heard Hagar 
weeping. He told her not to be afraid. He showed her a 
well of water there in the wilderness. Hagar filled her 
bottle with water and gave some to Ishmael to drink. 
Then Ishmael became strong and well again. 

After this God was kind to Ishmael. He became an 
archer. He shot with a bow and arrow. He grew to 
be a rough man. Hagar took for him a wife out of Egypt 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 213 



214 


STORIES, OLD' AND NEW. 


God promised that his descendants should Jbe many. He 
said that all other people would be against Ishmael’s de- 
scendants. He also said that Ishmael would be against 
all other people. Ishmael’s descendants live in Arabia 
and Egypt. 


-o- 


JACOB. 

Jacob had deceived his father, Isaac, and received the 
blessing which was intended for Esau. In this he had 
done wrong but afterward he did right and God forgave 
him. Esau, his brother, would not forgive him. He 
threatened to kill him when their father should die. 

And Isaac sent Jacob away to Haran where his mother, 
Rebekah, used to live. He did not want Jacob to marry 
a woman of Canaan because they worshipped idols. He 
wished Jacob to marry a daughter of Laban, Rebekah’s 
brother, because they served the true God. 

And Jacob took some food and his staff and travelled 
many days toward the land of Haran. One evening 
when he was very tired he took some stones for a pillow 
and lay down on the ground to rest and sleep. And 
while he slept, he dreamed. In his dream he saw a lad- 
der or steps set up on the ground and it reached unto 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 215 

heaven. And the angels of the Lord went up and down 
on the steps. There was a great light at the top of the 
steps and he heard the voice of the Lord speaking to him. 
The Lord told Jacob not to fear and he would bless him. 
He told him that he would watch over him and keep 
him from harm. 

When Jacob awoke, he knew that the Lord was in that 
place. So he knelt down and worshipped God and called 
the place Bethel, which means the “house of God.” He 
promised to serve and be faithful to God. Then he rose 
and went on his way and came to the land of Haran. 

Jacob found some men with their flock of sheep near a 
well. He asked them if they knew Laban and they said 
that they did. They told him that Rachel, Laban’s daugh- 
ter, was coming with her sheep for water. Then Jacob 
ran and removed the stone from the well and drew water 
for Rachel’s sheep. After that he kissed her and told her 
that he was Rebekah’s son. Then Rachel was glad and 
ran and told her father, Laban. And Laban ran to meet 
Jacob and kissed him and took him to his house. He 
was very glad to see his sister Rebekah’s son. 

Laban engaged Jacob to take care of his sheep and 
flocks and promised to give him his daughter, Rachel, for 
his wife after seven years. Jacob served Laban faithful- 
ly but at the end of seven years Laban would not give 
him Rachel. He gave him, Rachel’s sister instead be- 
cause she was the oldest. Then Jacob agreed to serve 
Laban seven more years for Rachel because he loved her 


2i6 STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 

best. So at the end of the second seven years Jacob had 
Leah and Rachel both, for his wives. 

God blessed Jacob so that Laban did not want him to 
go away. Jacob told Laban if he would give him some 
of his flocks, he would stay and serve him longer. Laban 
consented. Jacob’s flocks increased very fast and God 
gave him sons. He became very rich and Laban became 
jealous of him. And the Lord told Jacob to leave Haran 
and go back to Canaan where his father lived. 

Jacob collected his flocks of sheep and cattle and asses 
and camels. He took his wives and his sons, his man- 
servants and his maid-servants and started to go to Ca- 
naan. He did not tell Laban that he was going. He 
feared that Laban would take his wives and his sons 
from him, but the Lord promised to let no one hurt him. 

After Jacob had travelled many days he heard that 
Esau was coming with five hundred men to meet him. 
He was afraid of Esau. He thought Esau would attack 
him. He sent presents of sheep and oxen and camels to 
Esau. Then he sent his wives and sons and servants 
across a river and remained alone. During the night a 
man came to Jacob and wrestled with him all night and 
in the morning Jacob found that it was an angel with 
whom he had been wrestling. He would not let the 
angel go until he had blessed him. The angel told Jacob 
not to fear anything for the Lord would take care of him. 

Afterward Jacob met his brother, Esau, and they be- 
came friends again. Then Jacob travelled on and came 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW, 


217 



218 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


to Hebron where his father, Isaac, lived. But before he 
reached Hebron his beloved wife, Rachel, had died and he 
buried her at Bethlehem. When Isaac was one hundred 
and eighty years old, he died and Jacob and Esau buried 
him. 

Jacob had twelve sons and the Lord God blessed him. 
He became very rich and had great flocks and herds. Then 
God told him that his name should no longer be Jacob 
but his name should be Israel. And the Lord promise 
to give the land of Canaan to his children’s children. 


o- 


UNCLE SAM. 

Uncle Sam is a queer old chap. He is very popular and 
his picture is often seen in the newspapers. He usually 
wears a high, old fashioned beaver hat, a blue, claw- 
hammer coat with stars on it and red and white striped 
pants which are too short for him and are held down by 
straps. He is very tall and slim and wears a long gray 
goatee. His feet are large and his arms and fingers are 
very long. Perhaps you have often seen his picture. Un- 
cle Sam is a very rich man. He has large possessions of 
land, gold and silver mines, and many large building and 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


219 


ships. His wife was a Miss Columbia and he has a very 
large family of children. 

Uncle Sam was born about the year 1607 in a strange 
country and among a strange, savage people. He was a 
weak, sickly child and his parents were very poor. It was 
feared he would not live long. At one time he almost per- 
ished from disease and neglect. At another time he near- 
ly starved to death. By and by he grew stronger and by 
the time his infancy was past he was robust and hearty. 
He was a very bright hoy and learned very fast. He was 
also very independent and was always ready to fight for 
his rights. He would not let others abuse him. Some- 
times he got hurt in his quarrels with his neighbors but 
he did not seem to mind it very much. When he was 
a youth he grew very fast, so fast in fact, that his clothes 
became too small for him. That is why his pantaloons 
are so short. 

When Uncle Sam was quite young he took an eagle for 
a pet and of which he was very fond. Eagles are long 
lived birds and he has his eagle yet. He carries its picture 
about with him all the time. Its image is stamped in 
silver and gold. The eagle stamped in gold is worth ten 
dollars. Uncle Sam often presents the likeness of his 
eagle to his children and takes great delight in the pleas- 
ure it gives them. 

Uncle Sam is a cousin of a funny little man, named 
John Bull. John Bull is short and fat and wears a red coat 
and top boots. He lives on one side of a large fish pond 


220 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


and Uncle Sam lives on the other side. A long time ago 
John Bull claimed all the nice farms on both sides of this 
pond and Uncle Sam had to pay rent and taxes to him. 
The land was very wild where Uncle Sam lived. He had 
to clear the land and build houses. Then these farms be- 
came very valuable and John Bull made him pay high rent 
and more taxes. At last Uncle Sam refused to pay any 
more rent and taxes. This made John Bull very angry 
and they had a fight about it. During this fight each of 
them was knocked down several times. Finally Uncle 
Sam ga ve his cousin such a blow between the eyes that he 
could not fight any longer and he agreed to let him have 
the farms which he had improved. After this Uncle Sam 
began to get rich. He bought more land so that, now, he 
has one of the biggest farms in the world. 

John Bull has a pet lion and Uncle Sam used to tease 
it and make it cross. He would twist its tail, then the 
lion would roar and disturb John Bull. He did not like it 
and they often had cross words about it. In 1812 John 
Bull in terf erred with some of Uncle Sam’s boys while they 
were fishing on the pond. He made them get into his 
boat and help him. This made Uncle Sam very angry and 
he challenged John Bull to another fight. It w T as a pretty 
hard fight and each of them got a bloody nose. When it 
was over John Bull promised to let the boys alone when 
they were in their boats on the pond. After this Uncle 
Sam lived in peace for many years 

Uncle Sam’s next great trouble was with his own chil- 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


221 


dren. Some of those who Uved on the sunny side of his 
farm did not like the way he managed his business. 
They thought they could do better and teach the old 
gentleman a thing or two. They began to do as they 
pleased and would not mind him. He determined to 
make them obey his orders, so he called on his children 
who lived on the shady side of the farm to help him 
punish the disobedient boys. 

Well there was a big fight because there were so many 
of them on each side. Many of the boys were hurt very 
badly but at last the little rebels promised to mind Uncle 
Sam and be good children again. Since this trouble, Uncle 
Sam has been very properous. He is very proud of his 
possessions. A few years ago he collected all the wonder- 
ful things he could find on his farm and in his work shops 
and invited all the people in the world to come and see 
them. He felt pretty big when all those people came to 
see him. He put on his finest clothes and his pet eagle 
sat on his shoulder and screamed. 


m 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


VENICE. 

Venice is a wonderful city in Italy on the Adriatic sea. 
It is often called the “Queen of the Adriatic.” It is a very 
old city and many years ago it was more powerful and 
more beautiful than it is now. It is full of interest and 
people from all over the world go to visit there, because it 
is so unlike other cities and because there are so many 
interesting things to be seen. 

The city is built on eighty small islands, separated by 
wide and narrow channels. These channels are called 
canals. The houses cover the islands so completely as to 
make it appear that they were built up in the water. 
Nearly all the streets are canals. There are no rattling 
wagons and squeaky carts. People and goods are carried 
from place to place in boats called gondolas. These gondo- 
las arevery graceful and beautiful as they glide noiselessly 
along over the smooth water between the tall, stately 
houses. The houses open on the canals and the people 
step from their doors into the gondolas when they go any 
place. There are also narrow winding footpaths along 
the canals which are frequently crossed by graceful 
bridges. 

One of the bridges in Venice is called the Rialto. It is 
a graceful arch of marble, one hundred and fifty-eight 
feet long. It is three hundred years old. It is lined on 
either side with little shops, where everything is sold. It 


STORIES, OLD AND NEW. 


223 


is said the first newspaper ever published was sold on this 
bridge. The price of the paper was a coin, called a Gaz- 
etta. This is why, I suppose, so many newspapers are 
now called “Gazette.” 

St. Mark’s is a famous cathedral, erected nearly eight 
hundred years ago. The stones, the marble and the tim- 
bers used in building it were brought from every country 
in Europe. In this wonderful church, repose the remains 
of St. Mark, so it is claimed. There are also four spiral 
columns here, said to have belonged to the temple of Solo- 
mon. 

The Ducal palace is a noted building. It is very large 
and wonderfully rich in ornament and fine workmanship. 
It was first built one thousand years ago, but has been de- 
stroyed five times. Each time it was rebuilt with more 
splendor than before. The governors of Venice hold their 
court in this building and in the rear, just across a narrow 
canal, is the'gloomy prison with its dungeons and torture- 
chambers. A bridge connects the Ducal palace with the 
prison and is called “the bridge of sighs.” 

The Grand canal is the fashionable avenue of Venice. 
It is very wide and about two miles long. Along this 
canal are the houses of the rich and many of them are 
beautiful marble palaces. 




































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